World War II Honoree

Robert Calvin Yates

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Rinard, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON MAY 25, 1944 AT FAIRFIELD, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AT NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, FARRAGUT, IDAHO; BASIC ENGINEERING SERVICE SCHOOL AT NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS AND ASSIGNED TO NAVAL AIR STATION, ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE AVIATION MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT REPAIRING AIRCRAFT STARTERS AND COMPONENTS, WORKING ALONGSIDE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. WAS IN TRAINING FOR THE ‘PLANNED INVASION OF JAPAN’ WHEN IN EARLY JUNE 1945, WAS ADVISED THAT DUE TO RECENT CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION (AND THE FACT THAT HE HAD LOST TWO BROTHERS WHO WENT DOWN ON THE SAME SHIP IN COMBAT), HE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR AN IMMEDIATE DISCHARGE OR REASSIGNMENT TO A NAVAL BASE NEAR HIS HOMETOWN. HE CHOSE THE FORMER OPTION AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS AN AVIATION ELECTRICIAN’S MATE 3RD CLASS (T) ON JUNE 28, 1945 AT THE NAVAL PERSONAL REDISTRIBUTION CENTER, NAVY PIER, ILLINOIS. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.