World War II Honoree

Walter F. Peckham

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Lt. Col. Charles T. Borg, USA (Ret)

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY JUNE 8, 1944. RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP FARRAGUT, IDAHO. VOLUNTEERED FOR NAVY'S ARMED GUARD GUN CREW PROGRAM FOR DUTY ABOARD U.S. MERCHANT SHIPS. ATTENDED GUNNERY SCHOOL AT U.S. NAVAL BASE, SAN DIEGO WHICH INCLUDED TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION ON THE 20MM MACHINE GUN, 3 INCH AND 5 INCH NAVAL GUNS. IN OCTOBER 1944 TRANSFERRED TO NAVAL ARMED GUARD CENTER IN NEW ORLEANS. VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY ABOARD THE LIBERTY SHIP SS PONTUS H. ROSS EN ROUTE TO PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ON JANUARY 12, 1945, THE SS ROSS WAS DAMAGED BY JAPANESE KAITEN TORPEDO (JAPANESE SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED HUMAN GUIDED TORPEDO) OFF HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA. AFTER REPAIRS, HE PARTICIPATED IN CONVOYS IN THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. IN MAY 1945, HE HELPED TRANSPORT AUSTRALIAN ARMY TROOPS FROM QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA TO MOROTAI ISLAND, LOCATED SOUTH OF NEW GUINEA. IN SEPTEMBER 1945, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE BREMERTON NAVAL YARD IN WASHINGTON STATE AND FROM FEBRUARY TO JULY 1946 HE SERVED ABOARD THE VICTORY SHIP SS LAVACA, OPERATING IN THE PACIFIC. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT THE BREMERTON NAVAL YARD ON JULY 20, 1946, IN THE RANK OF SEAMAN FIRST CLASS. AWARDS AND DECORATIONS INCLUDE NAVY COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 CAMPAIGN STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, MERCHANT MARINE PACIFIC WAR ZONE MEDAL, MERCHANT MARINE DEFENSE MEDAL AND MERCHANT MARINE VICTORY MEDAL.