World War II Honoree

Benjamin Griffin Harney

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Laurens, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942 WHILE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS INDIANA (BB-58). PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF THE GILBERT ISLANDS IN NOVEMBER, 1943 AND IN THE FIGHT FOR TARAWA. SUPPORTED THE BOMBARDMENT OF KWAJALEIN ATOLL TO ASSIST THE LANDINGS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN JANUARY, 1944. TOOK PART IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING THE PRE-INVASION BOMBARDMENT OF SAIPAN, AND IN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA. ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS IN THE PALAU ISLANDS, THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND IN THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA, AND STRIKES AGAINST ULITHI AND OKINAWA. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. CONTINUED IN U.S. NAVY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.