World War II Honoree

Thadeous Herbert Westbrook, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Macon, Georgia

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17). HIS SHIP REPORTED TO THE PACIFIC IN THE FALL, 1943. PARTICIPATED IN CARRIER OPERATIONS AT RABAUL, THEN IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS, INCLUDING SUPPORT OF THE TARAWA LANDINGS, AND IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO OPERATIONS IN 1943 AND EARLY 1944. TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, AT TRUK, THEN IN THE MARIANAS ISLANDS, AT PALAU AND HOLLANDIA IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1944. FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA IN THE SUMMER OF 1944. ON JUNE 19, 1944 DURING THAT BATTLE, HIS SHIP WAS DAMAGED BY AN ENEMY AIRCRAFT NEAR-MISS THAT SCATTERED SHRAPNEL ACROSS THE SHIP'S DECK KILLING 2 AND WOUNDING 80 SHIPMATES. IN THE FALL OF 1944, WAS INVOLVED IN THE WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS OPERATION. HIS SHIP PARTICIPATED IN THE IWO JIMA INVASION AND RAIDS AGAINST THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS IN EARLY 1945. ON THE MORNING OF MAY 11, 1945, WHILE SUPPORTING THE INVASION OF OKINAWA, HIS SHIP WAS HIT BY 2 JAPANESE 'KAMIKAZE' SUICIDE PLANES AND SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE SHIP LOST 346 MEN KILLED, 43 MISSING AND 264 WOUNDED IN ACTION. ALTHOUGH BADLY DAMAGED, THE BUNKER HILL MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII AND ONWARD TO THE STATES. AFTER THE WAR, ENGAGED IN 'MAGIC CARPET' DUTY TO RETURN SERVICEMEN FROM THE PACIFIC TO THE U.S. HIS SHIP WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 11, 1943 TO MAY 11, 1945. HE WAS ALSO AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.