World War II Honoree

John S. Pidcock

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Honored By

Bonnie Pidcock

Relationship

Wife

AFTER COMPLETING BOOT TRAINING IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, WAS ASSIGNED DUTY TO PREPARE AND INSTALL SUBMARINE NETS TO PROTECT SAN FRANCISCO BAY IN CASE OF WAR. SUBSEQUENT ASSIGNMENT ON THE SEAPLANE TENDER, USS TANGIER (AV-8). ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, THE SHIP WAS IN PEARL HARBOR WHEN THE JAPANESE STRUCK AND BEGAN THE WAR. THE CREW OF THE TANGIER WAS FIRING AT THE FIRST TWO WAVES OF CARRIER BASED PLANES THAT WERE BOMBING THE FLEET IN PEARL HARBOR. TANGIER GUNNERS DOWNED AT LEAST THREE ENEMY PLANES AND HELPED SINK A MIDGET SUBMARINE THAT HAD PENETRATED THE HARBORS DEFENSES. WITNESSED THE SINKING OF THE BATTLESHIPS ARIZONA AND UTAH. LATER ACTIONS BY THE TANGIER SAW THE CREW ATTENDING SEAPLANES IN NEW CALDONIA AND ALSO IN THE REINFORCEMENT FORCE TO WAKE ISLAND, WHICH WAS ABORTED. LATER TRANSFERRED TO THE SMALL AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS NATOMA BAY (ACV-26) WHICH TRANSPORTED P-47 FIGHTER PLANES OF THE US ARMY AIR CORPS TO THE MARIANA AND SAIPAN ISLANDS. THE SHIP LATER PERFORMED SUPPORT FOR THE OCCUPATION FORCES IN JAPAN AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES.