World War II Honoree

Martin Arnold Gubbels

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hartington, Nebraska

Honored By

Jim Gubbels

Relationship

Son

AT THE AGE OF 18 HE WAS CALLED TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY BY WAY OF THE DRAFT IN JANUARY 1945, AND REPORTED TO FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. HE REQUESTED TO SERVE IN THE NAVY. HE WAS SWORN IN THE NAVY AT KANSAS CITY AND REPORTED TO BOOT CAMP AT THE GREAT LAKES TRAINING STATION. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THERE HE SIGNED UP FOR THE SEABEES AND REPORTED FOR TRAINING AT CAMP ENDICOTT IN RHODE ISLAND. HE CAME DOWN WITH RHEUMATIC FEVER AND WAS TAKEN TO CHELSEA NAVAL HOSPITAL. AFTER SPENDING ABOUT SIX WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL HE WAS SENT TO SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. HE RETURNED TO BOSTON TO THE CHELSEA ANNEX, THEN WAS TRANSFERRED TO PALM BEACH, FLORIDA TO COMPLETE HIS RECOVERY. HIS NEXT TRANSFER WAS TO CAMP PARKS IN CALIFORNIA FOR MORE TRAINING. HE SHIPPED OUT OF TREASURE ISLAND AND HEADED FOR JAPAN TO REPLACE TROOPS IN NORTHERN JAPAN. THE WAR WAS OVER BY THIS TIME AND THEY DID NOT NEED THESE TROOPS IN JAPAN, SO THEY WERE SENT TO GUAM INSTEAD. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO DO CARPENTER WORK; THEY CONVERTED QUONSET HUTS INTO LIVING QUARTERS FOR OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN JULY OF 1946 HE WAS DISCHARGED AND RETURNED HOME TO NEBRASKA.