World War II Honoree

Charles Edward Bishop

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Iola, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN ON AUGUST 21, 1943 AT SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AT NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED ABOARD THE NEWLY COMMISSIONED CLEVELAND-CLASS LIGHT CRUISER USS HOUSTON CL-18. PARTICIPATED IN SHAKE-DOWN OPERATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND TRANSITED THE PANAMA CANAL ON THE WAY TO COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. LATER ASSIGNED TO THE SMALL CRAFT TRAINING CENTER, TERMINAL ISLAND, CALIFORNIA, AND THEN SERVED ABOARD THE SUBMARINE CHASER USS PC-811. EARNED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON (RETROACTIVELY AUTHORIZED BY 1999 CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SEAMAN FIRST CLASS ON APRIL 4, 1946 AT THE NAVAL PERSONNEL SEPARATION CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS.