World War II Honoree

Walter Dawson Gorman

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE, DESPITE HAVING BOTH AGE AND EMPLOYMENT EXEMPTIONS AND A WIFE AND TWO YOUNG SONS, IN ORDER TO DO HIS PART TO HELP HIS COUNTRY'S WAR EFFORT. HE AND HIS 4 YOUNGER BROTHERS ALL JOINED IN THE EFFORT. HE SERVED 2 1/2 YEARS INCLUDING OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS, AND AT OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. WITNESSED THE RAISING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG ON MOUNT SURIBACHI ON IWO JIMA ON FEBRUARY 23, 1945 WHILE ABOARD SHIP OFF-SHORE. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.