World War II Honoree

Kenneth 'Ken' Clyde Garrett

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Glen Rock, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Elsie E. Garrett, Van, John & Curtis

Relationship

Wife, Sons & Stepson

SERVED AS A SHIP FITTER ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS HORNET CV-8 IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HIS SHIP WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND ABANDONED AFTER A DIVE-BOMBING AND TORPEDO ATTACK BY JAPANESE AIRCRAFT, OCTOBER 26, 1942 DURING THE BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ ISLAND. AFTER ABANDONING HIS SHIP, HE DRIFTED FOR 17 DAYS WITH OUT ANY FOOD OR WATER BY CLINGING TO A LOG ALONG WITH 3 OF HIS SHIPMATES. THEY WERE RESCUED BY A BRITISH SHIP AND TRANSFERRED TO A HOSPITAL ON MIDWAY ISLAND, BY AN AMERICAN SHIP. LATER HE WAS FLOWN TO THE U.S. MAINLAND FOR MEDICAL AIDE AND RECUPERATION. HE EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO DUTY AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ATTACK/TRANSPORT, USS BARNSTABLE, APA-93 FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR. WHEN ALL HOSTILITIES HAD CEASED WITH THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES, HIS SHIP AND CREW PERFORMED OCCUPATION DUTY AND COMPLETED 1 VOYAGE, RETURNING SERVICEMEN TO THE UNITED STATES. DECORATIONS: AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE U.S. NAVAL RESERVE HONORABLE DISCHARGE BUTTON AND THE DISCHARGE EMBLEM. ENTERED THE NAVY AUGUST 30, 1942 WITH BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT THE U.S. NAVAL TRAINING STATION, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED MAY 7, 1946 AT THE U.S. NAVAL STATION, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.