World War II Honoree

Mack A. Hamblen

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Paragould, Arkansas

Honored By

Betty Gullett Hamblen, Mark & Michael

Relationship

Wife, Sons and Grandchildren

COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. ENROLLED IN RADIO-RADAR SCHOOL AT REAM FIELD. SCHOOL WAS CLOSED AFTER THIRD WEEK DUE TO CUT-DOWN AFTER END OF THE WAR. HAMBLEN WAS TRANSFERRED TO A CASUAL PLATOON AT MIRAMAR NAVAL AIR STATION. LATER ASSIGNED TO VMF-513, MARINE AIR GROUP 12, EL TORO MARINE AIR BASE, SANTA ANNA, CALIFORNIA. FIRST ASSIGNED TO THE RADIO SHACK, THEN TRANSFERRED TO CLERICAL DUTIES IN SQUADRON OFFICE. LATER ASSIGNED AS S-2 (INTELLIGENCE) CLERK WITH AUTHORITY TO POST SECRET INFORMATION IN SQUADRON RECORDS. HE ALSO PLAYED BASEBALL FOR THE EL TORO BASE TEAM. VMF-513 (FIGHTING FIVE THIRTEEN) WAS A CARRIER-BASED SQUADRON. THE PILOTS FLEW F4U5 COSAIRS. HAMBLEN SERVED ON USS SAIDOR (CVE- 117) AND THE USS BOXER (CV - 21). DURING PERIODS WHEN THE PILOTS 'SHOT LANDINGS' TO MAINTAIN THEIR LANDING SKILLS. LATER, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO VMF 311, MAG 32, WHICH WAS ALSO A CARRIER-BASED SQUADRON LOCATED AT EL TORO. HE WAS DISCHARGED JUNE 24, 1948. HIS SERIAL NUMBER WAS 602294.