World War II Honoree

Franklin J. Hildebrand

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Port Huron, Michigan

Honored By

Maris Kay, Marilyn, Cynthia, James & John

Relationship

Daughters & Sons

SERVED AS WATER TENDER ABOARD 2 NAVAL SHIPS, THE USS SAVANNAH CRUISER (CL-42) AND THE USS NEVADA BATTLESHIP (BB-36) IN THE EUROPEAN AND PACIFIC THEATERS OF OPERATION. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, SALERNO, NORMANDY, CHERBOURG PENINSULA AND THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. THE INVASIONS OF IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA, JAPAN’S HOME ISLANDS AND BRIEF OCCUPATION DUTY IN TOKYO BAY AFTER ALL HOSTILITIES HAD SEIZED WITH THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES. AWARDED THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS. PRIOR TO GOING ABOARD SHIP, COMPLETED HIS BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT THE GREAT LAKES U.S. NAVAL TRAINING STATION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. ENTERED THE SERVICE AUGUST 22, 1941 AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED OCTOBER 3, 1945 AT THE GREAT LAKES U.S. NAVAL PERSONNEL SEPARATION CENTER, CHICAGO ILLINOIS.