World War II Honoree

Lee W. 'Tad' Beville, II

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1943, AT AGE 16, AND SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A SIGNALMAN ABOARD THE TRANSPORT SHIP USS PRESIDENT ADAMS (AP-38). ENGAGED IN TRANSPORTING ARMY INFANTRYMEN TO LINGAYEN GULF AT LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON JANUARY 11-12, 1945 AND THEN SAILED WITH WOUNDED TO LEYTE. TRANSPORTED MARINE TROOPS FROM GUAM TO IWO JIMA AND PARTICIPATED IN THE IWO JIMA OPERATION CAMPAIGN. LANDED TROOPS ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945 AND SPENT THE NEXT 10 DAYS OFF THE BEACH UNLOADING CARGO, RECEIVING CASUALTIES AND PROVIDING SUPPLIES AND REPAIR SERVICE FOR SMALL BOATS. FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT HE WAS ABLE TO WITNESS MUCH OF THE LAND AND AIR BATTLE, INCLUDING THE FLAG OVER MOUNT SURIBACHI. TRANSPORTED ARMY TROOPS TO LEYTE AND THEN FERRIED TROOPS FROM NEW GUINEA TO THE PHILIPPINES UNTIL JULY 17, 1945. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON MARCH 31, 1946, AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.