World War II Honoree

Ernest Orville Cox

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Fort Morgan, Colorado

Honored By

Cynthia Buttermore

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED MAY 18, 1944 TO DECEMBER 24, 1945. BOOT CAMP AT FARRAGUT, IDAHO. TRANSPORTED VIA CONVERTED FREIGHTER FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA. WAS THEN SENT TO MIOS WOENDI PT BASE, NEW GUINEA AND WAS TOLD TO TEACH HIMSELF TO OPERATE A CRANE. ASSIGNED TO FLOATING EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE UNIT OF THE MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT SQUAD. LIVED ON A CRANE BARGE AND USED IT TO PASS MOTORS AND OTHER MATERIAL ON AND OFF PT BOATS AND OTHER SMALL SHIPS. SOMETIMES THE BARGE WAS USED TO DISLODGE PT BOATS STUCK ON CORAL REEFS. OPERATED IN LEYTE STRAIT, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS; LUZON, AND BRUNEI BAY, BORNEO. WITH ONLY A 45 PISTOL AND M1 RIFLE EACH, THEY WERE TOLD TO SHOOT ANYTHING THAT MOVED. AFTER THE WAR, THE BARGE WAS LOADED WITH TRUCKS AND BULLDOZERS AND SUNK. RETURNED HOME.