World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Frank Lee Culbertson
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Laurens, South Carolina
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN THE NAVY IN 1943. APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED FOR NAVY FLIGHT TRAINING. GRADUATED AND AWARDED GOLD NAVAL AVIATOR WINGS IN 1944. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A NIGHT FIGHTER PILOT FLYING F6F 'HELLCAT' AIRCRAFT. STATIONED WITH VF(N)-52 ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS BON HOMME RICHARD CV-31 UNTIL WAR'S END. HIS SHIP DEPARTED NORFOLK, VIRGINIA ON MARCH 19, 1945 TO JOIN THE PACIFIC FLEET AND ARRIVED AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON APRIL 5, 1945. SERVED OFF OKINAWA BEGINNING JUNE 6, 1945. FROM JUNE 7-10, 1945, ATTACKED OKINO DAITO JIMA. SERVED WITH THE 3RD FLEET DURING AIR STRIKES AGAINST JAPAN FROM JULY 2ND TO AUGUST 15, 1945. AFTER THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER HIS SHIP REMAINED OFF JAPAN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.