World War II Honoree

Blaine E. Wagg

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Evelyn Wagg Bonar & LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

AFTER NAVY BASIC TRAINING HE WAS ACCEPTED FOR THE NAVY'S ARMED GUARD UNIT PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDED ARMED PROTECTION ON U.S. VICTORY SHIPS TRANSPORTING CRITICAL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS GOING INTO THE WAR IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. ATTENDED GUNNERY SCHOOL AT SAN DIEGO TO QUALIFY ON THE 20MM MACHINE GUN AND THE 3 INCH AND 5 INCH NAVAL GUNS. THEN ASSIGNED TO THE ARMED GUARD UNIT ON THE SS PRATT-VICTORY WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND THE OKINAWA CAMPAIGN. DURING THE INVASION OF OKINAWA HE WAS WOUNDED WHEN THE PRATT-VICTORY WAS HIT BY A JAPANESE TORPEDO ON JULY 27, 1945. HE RETURNED TO THE STATES AND WAS DISCHARGED IN 1945 HAVING RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BATTLE STARS, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.