World War II Honoree

William 'Bill' Askew

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Edison, New Jersey

Honored By

Grateful American

TORPEDOMAN ABOARD THE USS HUGHES, A DESTROYER ESCORT WITH THE CARRIER USS YORKTOWN DURING THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. THE YORKTOWN WAS CRIPPLED BY DIVE BOMBERS AND TORPEDO PLANES ON THE FIRST DAY AND HAD TO BE ABANDONED. THE NEXT MORNING AT DAYLIGHT, AS THE HUGHES CIRCLED THE CARRIER, A WOUNDED SAILOR APPEARED ON THE YORKTOWN'S AFT HANGAR DECK, SIGNALING FOR HELP. HIMSELF AND OTHER CREWMEN TOOK THE SAILOR BACK TO THE DESTROYER AND RETURNED AFTER LEARNING THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN STILL ALIVE IN THE SICK BAY. HE MADE SEVERAL OTHER TRIPS BETWEEN THE HUGHES AND THE YORKTOWN TO RETRIEVE MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM THE CARRIER'S SICK BAY AND DESTROY SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT ON THE YORKTOWN'S BRIDGE. LATER SWITCHED TO THE SUBMARINE SERVICE.