World War II Honoree

Royal Enoch Folk

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Lexington County, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A SEAMAN ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS MELVIN (DD-680). HIS SHIP SAILED FOR PACIFIC DUTY ON FEBRUARY 1, 1944 AND CONDUCTED ANTISUBMARINE PATROLS AND PARTICIPATED IN THE BLOCKADE OF ENEMY-HELD ATOLLS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN EARLY 1944. USS MELVIN SANK AN ENEMY SUBMARINE OFF SAIPAN, IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, ON JUNE 14, 1944 AND SUBSEQUENTLY ALSO SANK AN ENEMY MERCHANTMAN. NEXT, PROVIDED FIRE SUPPORT TO GROUND FORCES AND CONDUCTED ANTISUBMARINE PATROLS AT SAIPAN. JOINED IN THE BOMBARDMENT OF TINIAN ISLAND IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, AND IN OPERATIONS AT GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, IN THE SOUTHERN PALAU ISLANDS, AND IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN 1944. FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF SURIGAO STRAIT IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN DECEMBER, 1944. THEN COVERED LANDINGS AT LINGAYEN GULF ON LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN JANUARY, 1945. ALSO TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS AT IWO JIMA, AND AT OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. AFTER THE WAR, PERFORMED OCCUPATION DUTY OFF NORTHERN HONSHU, JAPAN FROM AUGUST-OCTOBER, 1945. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘ASIA’ CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.