World War II Honoree

Lyle Wayne Beattie

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Boulder, Colorado

Honored By

Patsy J. Beattie, Laura, Kerry, Steven & Brent

Relationship

Wife, Daughters & Sons

HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE FIRST NAVY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, BOULDER, COLORADO SEPTEMBER, 1941. RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION AS A LINE OFFICER WITH THE RANK OF ENSIGN, FEBRUARY 28, 1944 AND WAS IMMEDIATELY ASSIGNED TO SEA DUTY. SERVED ABOARD THE DESTROYER, USS LANG AS A DECK AND ENGINEERING OFFICER IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: MARIANA ISLANDS, INVASIONS OF LEYTE GULF AND LINGAYEN GULF IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HIS SHIP ALONG WITH OTHER DESTROYERS AND DESTROYER ESCORTS PROVIDED RADAR PICKET COVERAGE FOR THE DETECTION AND INTERCEPTION OF JAPANESE KAMIKAZE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ASSAULT OF OKINAWA. DECORATIONS: AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN WITH 5 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS. WHEN HIS SHIP WAS DECOMMISSIONED OCTOBER 16, 1945, HE HAD THE HONOR OF STANDING THE FINAL WATCH AND WAS THE LAST MAN DOWN THE GANGPLANK. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED MARCH 12, 1946 AT THE OFFICER SEPARATION CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.