World War II Honoree

James 'Jim' White

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

Friend

IN 1942 HE OPTED TO JOIN THE U.S. NAVY RATHER THAN BE DRAFTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY. HE ATTENDED THE U.S. NAVY SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS SHAMROCK BAY, A JEEP AIRCRAFT CARRIER, HALF THE SIZE OF THE LARGE ONES. HIS NAVY TOURS INCLUDED ASSIGNMENTS TO THE WEST COAST, TRIPS THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, NORTH AFRICA, AND EVENTUALLY TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HIS SHIP WAS UNDER ATTACK BY KAMIKAZE PLANES. THE CARRIERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE USS SHAMROCK BAY WERE HIT BY THE SUICIDE PLANES, BUT THE GUNNERS SHOT DOWN THE ONE WHICH ATTEMPTED TO HIT 'THE LUCKIEST SHIP IN THE NAVY'. THEY WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE INVASIONS OF IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA. HE WAS DISCHARGED AFTER 3 YEARS 8 MONTHS AND 4 DAYS.