World War II Honoree

Joe F. Wiggins

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Algood, Tennessee

Honored By

Patrick W. Harrison

Relationship

Friend

SERVED ABOARD THE LIGHT CRUISER USS COLUMBIA IN THE PACIFIC THEATER 1943 TO 1945. AWARDED SIX BATTLE STARS, THE PURPLE HEART AND THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION RIBBON. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW GEORGIA OPERATION, TREASURY-BOUGAiNVILLE OPERATION, BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO OPERATION, WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS OPERATION, LEYTE LANDINGS AND THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, THE LARGEST NAVAL SURFACE AND AIR BATTLE IN HISTORY. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE MINDORO LANDINGS AND LINGAYEN GULF LANDINGS. WHEN THE THIRD JAPANESE KAMIKAZE HIT THE COLUMBIA, HE WAS WOUNDED BY BOMB SHRAPNEL AND THE SCALP OF THE SUICIDE PILOT LANDED IN HIS LAP.