World War II Honoree

Melvin G. 'Mel' Chapman

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

JOINED U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY IN JANUARY 1942 DOING COASTAL NIGHT PATROLS FOR THE NAVY IN PUGET SOUND AREA OF WASHINGTON. IN MAY 1943, WAS COMMISSIONED TO THE NAVY. AFTER RECEIVED OFFICER TRAINING AT TUCSON, ARIZONA AND FORT SCHUYLER, NEW YORK, SERVED ON THE MINESWEEPER USS NIGHTINGALE, OPERATING IN THE PUGET SOUND AREA. IN LATE 1943 WAS ASSIGNED COMMAND OF THE MINESWEEPER USS AGILE, OPERATING IN ALASKA OFF KODIAK ISLAND. AFTER ATTENDING THE MINE WARFARE SCHOOL AT YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER TO COMMAND THE MINESWEEPER YMS-388. CONDUCTED IN-SHORE MINE SWEEPING OPERATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR ASSAULT LANDINGS ON JAPANESE HELD ISLANDS. DURING THE INVASION OF OKINAWA, WAS ABOARD THE USS PINKNEY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT WHEN THAT SHIP WAS HIT BY A JAPANESE KAMIKAZE AIRPLANE ON APRIL 29, 1945. SERIOUSLY WOUNDED, WAS EVACUATED TO HOSPITAL SHIP USS HOPE AND THEN TO THE 39TH GENERAL FIELD HOSPITAL ON SAIPAN. WAS DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY, NOVEMBER 1945 AT SEATTLE NAVAL HOSPITAL. AWARDED PURPLE HEART, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.