World War II Honoree

James Gordon Healam

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

John Healam & LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

JOINED THE NAVY AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON RECRUITING STATION IN 1941. RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, FOLLOWED BY AVIATION RADIO TRAINING AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. QUALIFIED AS COMBAT AIR CREWMAN. AFTER ASSIGNMENT AT NAVAL AIR STATION, KEY WEST, FLORIDA, JOINED AIR PATROL UNIT VP-81 AS THE RADIO OPERATOR ON PBY CATALINA 'FLYING BOAT', OPERATING IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. IN EARLY 1944 WAS IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AND BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO AREAS CARRYING OUT NUMEROUS BOMBING AND STRAFING ATTACKS AGAINST JAPANESE SHIPPING AND SHORE INSTALLATIONS. ON MARCH 16, 1944, ASSISTED THE COMMANDER OF THE PBY CATALINA IN SINKING A JAPANESE TROOP SHIP AND SETTING FIRE TO ANOTHER NEAR RABAL. FOR THIS ACTION, RECEIVED BRONZE STAR MEDAL. THE AIR STRIKES WERE CITED AS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DISRUPTION OF ENEMY SUPPLY LINES AND ACTIVITIES IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. IN 1945, ACHIEVED ENOUGH POINTS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S., AND WAS ASSIGNED AS AN AVIATION RADIO INSTRUCTOR AT NAVAL AIR STATION, HUTCHINSON, KANSAS. DISCHARGED IN LATE 1945. AWARDS AND DECORATIONS; BRONZE STAR MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND NAVY COMBAT AIR CREW BADGE.