World War II Honoree

William Bundy Wham

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Centralia, Illinois

VOLUNTEERED FOR THE NAVY V-7 COLLEGE TRAINING PROGRAM WHILE A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AND ENLISTED ON APRIL 26, 1942. REPORTED FOR MIDSHIPMAN’S SCHOOL AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS IN SEPTEMBER 1943. COMMISSIONED AS AN ENSIGN ON DECEMBER 22, 1943, AND AFTER ADDITIONAL AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING, DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SERVED 20 MONTHS IN OPERATIONS ON OR ALONG THE COAST OF NEW GUINEA, RESPONSIBILITIES RISING EVENTUALLY TO OFFICER IN CHARGE OF LANDING CRAFT TANK (LCT) VESSELS IN LCT FLOTILLA 8, ATTACHED TO THE 7TH FLEET. AT THE END OF HOSTILITIES, RETURNED TO THE STATES FOR DUTY AT THE AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING BASE AT CORONADO, CALIFORNIA, WERE HE SERVED AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF LCT GROUP 111 (12 SHIPS). LATER SERVED AS COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER ABOARD THE HIGH SPEED TRANSPORT USS WALTER X. YOUNG APD-131. EARNED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON (RETROACTIVELY AUTHORIZED BY 1999 ACT OF CONGRESS), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY RELEASED TO INACTIVE DUTY AS A LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) ON JUNE 24, 1946 AT THE NAVAL PERSONNEL SEPARATION CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.