World War II Honoree

Eugene J. Yparraguirre

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oxnard, California

Honored By

Sharon Cloona

Relationship

Daughter

JOINED THE NAVY DECEMBER 8,1941 AT OXNARD, CALIFORNIA. SENT TO LOS ANGELES ON DECEMBER 30TH FOR SWEARING IN AND SHIPMENT TO SAN DIEGO FOR RECRUIT TRAINING, THEN OVER TO NORTH ISLAND FOR AVIATION MACHINIST TRAINING. AFTER TRAINING WENT TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR SHIPMENT TO PEARL HARBOR ON THE TROOP SHIP USS REPUBLIC. AT PEARL HARBOR HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CARRIER USS SARATOGA CV-3 FOR DUTY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE JAPANESE. SAW FIERCE COMBAT AT GUADALCANAL,NEW GEORGIA, RABAUL, BOUGAINVILLE, TARAWA AND GILBERT ISLANDS. RETURNED TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR REPAIRS. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE CVE STEAMER BAY #87 AND HEADED FOR THE SOUTH PACIFIC AGAIN. WHILE UNDER WAY HE WAS DECORATED WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR BATTLES WHILE SERVING ON THE USS SARATOGA. CVE STEAMER BAY #87 WAS IN FIERCE COMBAT AT MANILA, LUZON ISLANDS. THEN WENT TO LEYTE FOR REPAIRS. AFTER REPAIRS THEY TOOK OFF FOR THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA AND SOME FIERCE FIGHTING AND ATTACKS FROM KAMIKAZE PILOTS. THEN OFF TO OKINAWA FOR WEEKS OF FIGHTING FOR CONTROL OF THE ISLAND. THE CVE STEAMER BAY #87 THEN HEADED FOR SAN DIEGO. AS THEY ENTERED SAN DIEGO BAY ON AUGUST 14TH 1945 JAPAN SURRENDERED. HE WAS DECORATED WITH A SECOND PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR BATTLE ON GUADALCANAL WHILE SERVING ON THE USS SARATOGA. HE SPENT THREE YEARS IN TREATMENT AT VETERANS HOSPITALS BEFORE RECEIVING A MEDICAL DISCHARGE FROM THE NAVY.