World War II Honoree

Robert Manning Goff

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Terre Haute, Indiana

Honored By

Mary Goff

Relationship

Spouse

ENLISTED IN TERRE HAUTE INDIANA IN 1944. TOOK HIS BASIC TRAINING IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND, THEN HE WAS SHIPPED TO WASHINGTON TO MEET THE SHIP TO COMPLETE A 'SHAKE DOWN'. THEY THEN TOOK THE SHIP TO SAN DIEGO TO 'LOAD UP' AND WERE OFF TO JAPAN. THE SHIP WAS AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER CALLED USS GILBERT ISLANDS. THEY WERE IN WITH THE FLEET AS A DECOY FOR THE ATOM BOMBING MISSION IN THE STRAIGHTS OF JAPAN THAT ENDED THE WAR. THEY WENT BACK TO SAN DIEGO AND INTO THE PANAMA CANAL TO DECOMMISSION THE SHIP. RELEASED IN FEBRUARY OF 1947.