World War II Honoree

A. V. 'Bert' Goodpasture

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE ESCORT DESTROYER USS WITTER (DE-636). PARTICIPATED IN CONVOY ESCORT, SCREENING AND PATROLLING OPERATIONS AT LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND LATER IN THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA. HIS SHIP WAS SUBJECTED TO ENEMY AIR ATTACKS AT LEYTE ON OCTOBER 24, 1944 BUT SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE. HIS DESTROYER WAS SUBJECTED TO INTERMITTENT AIR ATTACKS AT OKINAWA WHILE CONDUCTING ANTISUBMARINE SCREENING DUTIES. IT WAS STRUCK BY A 'KAMIKAZE' SUICIDE AIRCRAFT AT ABOUT 1611 HOURS ON APRIL 6, 1945 WHILE OPERATING OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF OKINAWA. THE SHIP WAS HIT AT THE WATERLINE AND THE AIRCRAFT EXPLODED, FLOODING SEVERAL COMPARTMENTS. ALTHOUGH DAMAGE CONTROL STABILIZED THE SHIP, IT WAS FORCED TO RETIRE FOR REPAIRS TO KERAMA RHETTO, IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS, AND THEN RETURN TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ON JULY 24, 1945. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RATING OF RADARMAN FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.