World War II Honoree

Theodore Robert 'Ted' Pfundt, M.D.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

RECEIVED HIS M.D. DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA IN 1944 AND WAS IMMEDIATELY COMMISSIONED A LIEUTENANT IN THE NAVY. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A SHIP'S OFFICER ABOARD THE MINELAYING SHIP USS TERROR (CM-5). HIS SHIP WAS THE ONLY VESSEL BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TASK OF LAYING MINES. SAILED FROM SAN FANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1944 EN ROUTE PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII AND THEN ON TO ULITHI ATOLL IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS TO CONDUCT DEFENSIVE MINING OPERATIONS. DURING OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1944, HIS SHIP CARRIED CARGO TO THE MARIANA, CAROLINE AND ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. FROM JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1945, SUPPLIED MINES AND GEAR TO MINECRAFT PREPARING FOR THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA, AND ACTED AS A TENDER FOR MINECRAFT AT TINIAN ISLAND IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON FEBRUARY 17, 1945, HIS SHIP ARRIVED AT IWO JIMA AND PROVIDED SHORE BOMBARDMENT AND ASSISTED DAMAGED LANDING CRAFT. IT ACTED AS A CASUALTY EVACUATION VESSEL, A TASK THAT SEVERELY TASKED THE SHIP'S MEDICAL FACILITIES. CONTINUED DUTIES AT IWO JIMA UNTIL LATE ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945 WHEN HIS SHIP DEPARTED FOR THE MARIANA ISLANDS WITH WOUNDED ON BOARD. ON FEBRUARY 21, 1945, TRANSFERRED CASUALTIES TO AN ARMY HOSPITAL SHIP AT SAIPAN. HIS SHIP OPERATED OFF KERAMA RETTO FROM MARCH 24, 1945 UNTIL THE END OF APRIL AS FLAGSHIP AND MINECRAFT TENDER WHILE UNDERGOING REPEATED JAPANESE 'KAMIKAZE' SUICIDE AND OTHER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS. DURING THIS PERIOD, HE PROVIDED CONTINUOUS MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR SURVIVORS OF OTHER SHIPS THAT HAD BEEN HIT AS WELL AS OTHER CASUALTIES. ABOUT 0400 HOURS ON MAY 1, 1945, WHILE AT ANCHOR AT KERAMA RETTO, THE USS TERROR WAS STRUCK BY A 'KAMIKAZE' AT THE COMMUNICATIONS PLATFORM AND EXPLODED 2 BOMBS. FIRES WERE FOUGHT AND MAGAZINES FLOODED TO KEEP ON-BOARD AMMUNITION FROM EXPLODING. THE ATTACK RESULTED IN 171 CASUALTIES INCLUDING 41 KILLED, 123 WOUNDED AND 7 MISSING IN ACTION. AFTER EMERGENCY REPAIRS, HIS SHIP SAILED TO ENIWETOK ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, THEN TO PEARL HARBOR AND ONWARD TO SAN FRANCISCO, ARRIVING JUNE 1, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.