World War II Honoree

Gerald Howard Garling

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Iola, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON MAY 17, 1944. COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AT NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, AND FURTHER TRAINING AT THE NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ARMED GUARDS AT GULF PORT, MISSISSIPPI. ASSIGNED TO THE ARMED GUARD CENTER, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. SERVED ABOARD MULTIPLE MERCHANT MARINE SHIPS DEFENDING THEM FROM ENEMY ACTION ON THE HIGH SEAS AND AT WORLD-WIDE PORTS OF CALL. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINES LIBERATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SEAMAN FIRST CLASS ON JANUARY 19TH, 1946 AT THE NAVAL PERSONNEL SEPARATION CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS.