World War II Honoree

Elliott C. Fenton

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

Friend

AFTER THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY V-7 PROGRAM IN DECEMBER 1942, WHICH OFFERED TO COLLEGE GRADUATES A COMMISSION AS AN ENSIGN AND QUALIFIED FOR GENERAL DECK DUTIES UPON COMPLETION OF A FOUR MONTH COURSE OF STUDY AT MIDSHIPMAN'S SCHOOL AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY. FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS TO ADVANCED FIRE CONTROL SCHOOL. IN MAY, 1943 WENT TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AND REPORTED AT MOORE'S DRY DOCK TO THE USS SHERIDAN (PA-51) WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WAS AN OFFICER AT TARAWA IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS. RESPONSIBLE FOR SIX LANDING BOATS AND ALSO AT ROI NAMUR IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, AND SAIPAN AND GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. AT SAIPAN HE WAS SALVAGE OFFICER AND SECOND IN COMMAND OF THE SHERIDAN’S 36 BOATS IN THE WATER. IN FURTHER ACTION, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASIONS OF LEYTE AND LINGAYEN GULF IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND OKINAWA. RECEIVED ORDERS TO RETURN TO THE STATES FOR DISCHARGE, LEFT ON AN ESCORT CARRIER, AND REACHED SAN DIEGO HARBOR ON NAVY DAY, 1945, AND WAS DISCHARGED.