World War II Honoree

Thomas H. Cotton

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Longview, Washington

Honored By

David Cotton

Relationship

Son

IN JULY 1942 AT AGE 18, AFTER GRADUATING FROM LONGVIEW, WASHINGTON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, HE JOINED THE NAVY RESERVE. IN MARCH 1943, HE ENLISTED IN THE ACTIVE NAVY AND ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT FARRAGUT NAVAL STATION, IDAHO, FOLLOWED BY ADVANCED TRAINING AT THE FLEET SERVICE SCHOOL, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. HE GRADUATED FROM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES TRAINING WITH A MOTOR MACHINIST MATE 3RD CLASS RATING. IN NOVEMBER 1943, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS ELK (IX 115) WHERE THE SHIP WAS DEPLOYED TO KWAJALEIN ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. FOR THE NEXT 1 1/2 YEARS, HE AND THE USS ELK SAILED IN THE MARSHALL AND GILBERT ISLANDS REFUELING U.S. AND BRITISH SHIPS OF THE LINE. IN APRIL 1945, HE WAS PART OF THE INVASION OF OKINAWA AND WAS PREPARING FOR THE INVASION OF THE JAPANESE MAIN ISLANDS WHEN THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC ENDED. IN LATE AUGUST 1945, HE SPENT A SHORT TOUR ON THE USS LAYETTE GULF IN THE PHILIPPINES BEFORE BEING REASSIGNED TO THE USS ATHANASIA (AF-41) AT BREMERTON, WASHINGTON. DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY ON FEBRUARY 16, 1946.