World War II Honoree

Clifford Leon Babcock

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN ON MAY 6, 1944. COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AT NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS AND GRADUATED NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL (RADIO) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON, WISCONSIN. IN TURN, ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED ABOARD USS SHIELDS DD-596 AND THE USS BRYANT DD-665, BOTH FLETCHER CLASS DESTROYERS. EARNED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON (RETROACTIVELY AWARDED BY 1999 CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SEAMAN FIRST CLASS ON JUNE 8, 1946 AT THE NAVAL PERSONNEL SEPARATION CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS.