World War II Honoree

James Olive Whipple

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

El Paso, Texas

Honored By

Sons Craig, Kenneth, Larry & Family of H. L. Whipple, Jr.

ENTERED U.S. NAVAL SERVICE OCTOBER 26, 1942 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO AVIATION ORDNANCE ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASIONS OF SAIPAN, TINIAN, BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA (THE GREAT MARIANA ISLANDS TURKEY SHOOT JUNE 19, 1944). SUPPORTED THE AMPHIBIOUS ATTACK WHICH DROVE TROOPS ASHORE AND CAPTURED THE ISLANDS OF PELELIU AND ANGUAR IN THE SOUTHERN PALAU GROUP. AT APPROXIMATELY 0820 OCTOBER 25, 1944 DURING OPERATION VC-10 REAR ADMIRAL THOMAS L. SPRAGUE'S 'TAFFY' GROUP 3 OF THE U.S. 7TH FLEET, JAPANESE SITES AND GUNFIRE CUT INTO HONOREE’S SHIP THE USS GAMBIER BAY CVE-73. THE USS GAMBIER BAY WAS SOON DEAD IN THE WATER AS THREE JAPANESE CRUISERS CLOSED TO POINT BLANK RANGE. FIRES RAGED THROUGH THE RIDDLED ESCORT CARRIER AND SHE SANK AT 0910. HE SPENT 2 DAYS IN THE DEEP; 60 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF SAMAR, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BEFORE BEING RESCUED BY SPOTTER PATROL CRAFT 623 AND THE HOSPITAL SHIP USS LURLINE PICKED UP SURVIVORS. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA. OF THE 1100 MEN ABOARD THE USS GAMBIER BAY, 700 SURVIVED THE ATTACK AND SINKING. SENT TO THE U.S. NOVEMBER 16, 1944 AND ARRIVED OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA DECEMBER 1, 1944. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FEBRUARY 18, 1946 AT CAMP WALLACE NAVAL PROCESSING CENTER NEAR HOUSTON, TEXAS. AWARDS: U.S. PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION RIBBON (2ND AWARD), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. FOREIGN AWARDS: THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON AND BATTLE STAR FOR LEYTE GULF AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. U.S. NAVAL SERIAL NUMBER: 555 75 01.