World War II Honoree

William Oscar Needham

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

North Carolina

Honored By

William Oscar Needham

Relationship

Son

BEGINNING IN 1941, HAD DUTY WITH SUPPORT FORCE, ATLANTIC FLEET. ACTING WARRANT MACHINIST, WAS ORDERED TO USS PRAIRIE IN MAY 1941. REASSIGNED TO TASK FORCE 24 IN MARCH 1942, APPOINTMENT AS A WARRANT OFFICER WAS CONFIRMED IN JUNE OF THAT YEAR. THE FOLLOWING MONTH, WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF ENSIGN FOR TEMPORARY SERVICE. ASSIGNMENT TO USS PRAIRIE ENDED IN DECEMBER 1942, AND THEN REPORTED TO ANACOSTIA NAVAL AIR STATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON 1 MAY 1943. WAS APPOINTED LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE FOR TEMPORARY SERVICE, AND JUST 17 DAYS LATER PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT. WAS RECOMMENDED FOR A PERMANENT COMMISSION AND CONTINUED SERVICE AS AN OFFICER. HIS CAREER WAS CUT UNFORTUNATELY SHORT WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN A PLANE CRASH NEAR BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND ON 17 MAY 1945.