World War II Honoree

Ned C. Basil

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Jessie, Clay and Roger Knight

Relationship

Wife, Son and Nephew

JOINED THE MARINE CORP ON JULY 9, 1943 IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. IN OCTOBER, 1943 GRADUATED BASIC TRAINING IN SAN DIEGO AND WENT TO NORMAN, OKLAHOMA FOR AIRCRAFT ORDNANCE SCHOOL, THEN PERSEL, OKLAHOMA FOR AIRCRAFT GUNNERY SCHOOL AND TO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA TO FLY IN A PBY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE. GRADUATED OCTOBER 21, 1944 AS A QUALIFIED AIR GUNNER FROM THE BOMBING AND AIR GUNNERY SCHOOL, US MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, EL CENTRO. TRAINED IN A SCOUT BOMBER DOUGLAS. BACK TO EL TORO FOR TRAINING IN TBMS 943 TRAINER SQUADRON VTMB. LEFT SAN FRANCISCO VIA BOAT TO HAWAII, THEN TRAVELED VIA CARRIER TO ULITHI WHERE HE JOINED THE MARINE TORPEDO BOMBER SQUADRON VTMB 232 SQUADRON. SERVED FROM FEBRUARY 7, 1945 TO JANUARY 9, 1946 IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AREA. ULITHI ATOLL, CAROLINE ISLANDS; SAIPAN, IWO JIMA, OKINAWA, RYUKYU ISLANDS. PARTICIPATED IN AERIAL OPERATIONS AGAINST ENEMY FORCES OVER OKINAWA, RYUKYUS ISLANDS APRIL 22, 1945 TO JUNE 30, 1945. FLEW GROUND SUPPORT, BOMBING, RE SUPPLY AND SUBMARINE PATROL MISSIONS WITH MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP (MAG) 33, VMTB 232 WHILE ASSIGNED AS A RADIO/GUNNER. DISCHARGED AS A SERGEANT AVN TW IN SAN FRANCISCO AT THE MARINE BARRACKS, US NAVAL SHIPYARD, MARE ISLAND, CALIFORNIA ON MARCH 13, 1946. RECEIVED DISCHARGE BUTTON, HONORABLE SERVICE BUTTON. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL AND GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF SECOND AIR MEDAL AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.