World War II Honoree

Earl Lane Otto

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Ardith E. Stivers

Relationship

Niece

JOINED THE U.S. MARITIME SERVICE MAY 5, 1945. AFTER TRAINING, ASSIGNED TO THE WATER DIVISION OF THE ARMY TRANSPORTATION SERVICE (ATS) OUT OF SEATTLE. THE ARMY TRANSPORTATION SERVICE OVERSAW COORDINATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF TROOPS, PRODUCTION RESOURCES AND MERCHANT MARINE DURING WWII. THE WATER DIVISION WAS AN ARMY FLEET OF MERCHANT SHIPS MANNED BY CONTRACT SEAMEN THAT WERE AT THE TIME CIVILIAN, BUT HAVE SINCE BEEN GRANTED VETERAN STATUS. THE FLEET TRANSPORTED PERSONNEL, FOOD, GUNS AND MUNITIONS, SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT TO AND FROM BATTLE. HE SERVED ABOARD THE U.S. ARMY TRANSPORT COPIAPO AS A MARINE OILER. THE COPIAPO, A DANISH PASSENGER SHIP REFITTED TO TROOPSHIP, HAD COME INTO THE PACIFIC IN LATE 1944. SHE SAILED THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC IN HER DUTIES CARRYING MEN AND SUPPLIES TO THE PHILIPPINES, HAWAII AND JAPAN. THE COPIAPO, AS DID HER SISTER MERCHANT SHIPS, PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE WAR EFFORT AND CAME FREQUENTLY UNDER ATTACK DURING THEIR MISSION TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PORTS OF WAR AND LIBERTY SHIPS. THE ROLE OF THE FLEET REMAINED VITAL EVEN AFTER V-J DAY IN TRANSPORTING THE MEN OF WAR BACK TO HOME SOIL. HE REMAINED IN THE ARMY TRANSPORT SERVICE THROUGH MAY 11, 1947 AT WHICH TIME HE BEGAN AN ENLISTED AIR FORCE CAREER.