World War II Honoree

Deale Binion Cochran

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Holly Springs, Mississippi

Honored By

Charles Henry Atkinson

HE WAS A 1942 GRADUATE OF THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY. IN THE BATTLE OF KULA GULF, HE WAS AMONG THE CREW WHO WENT OVERBOARD WHEN THEIR SHIP, THE USS HELENA, SANK. HE ALSO WAS ONE OF THE CREWMEN NOT IMMEDIATELY RESCUED BY DESTROYERS. HIS GROUP SPENT THREE DAYS IN A DOUGHNUT-SHAPED RAFT BEFORE REACHING THE PACIFIC ISLAND OF VELLA LAVELLA. AFTER HIS SERVICE ON THE LIGHT CRUISER USS HELENA, HE LATER SERVED ON THE USS MIAMI AND THE USS OKLAHOMA CITY.