World War II Honoree

Jack Leo Wheatley

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Indianapolis, Indiana

Honored By

Florabel Willsey

Relationship

Sister

QUARTERMASTER 1ST CLASS. COMPLETED BOOT TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION, ILLINOIS, AND SIGNAL SCHOOL AT CHICAGO UNIVERSITY. ASSIGNED TO THE MINE SWEEPER, USS WHIPPOORWILL AM-35 STATIONED AT FREMANTLE, AUSTRALIA, SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. PERFORMED MINE SWEEPING OPERATIONS AND ANTI-SUBMARINE PATROL IN THE EXMOUTH GULF. AFTER EXTENSIVE REFITTING, WAS RE-DESIGNATED OCEAN-GOING TUG AT-169 AND STATIONED AT BRISBANE, GIVEN THE TASK OF TOWING LST-385 TO NEW GUINEA. THEN WORKED AT HOLLANDIA, MIOS WOENDI, AND SERVED ON 'BATTLE DAMAGE' STAND-BY DUTY IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. FINALLY, RECLASSIFIED AS OCEAN-GOING TUG (OLD) WAS DESIGNATED ATO-169 WITH OPERATIONS OFF NEW GUINEA. RETURNED TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, THEN GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION FOR SEPARATION FROM THE SERVICE.