World War II Honoree

Cletus L. Davidson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Grandfield, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AT THE END OF 1943. TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA THEN MOVED TO ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA WHERE HE BOARDED THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LEXINGTON (CV-16). SERVED IN THE AMERICAN AND ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATERS. SAILED FOR HAWAII AND THEN ONWARD TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS WHERE HE GOT HIS FIRST TASTE OF BATTLE. SERVED ABOARD USS LEXINGTON FOR 2 YEARS TAKING CARE OF F6F GRUMMAN 'HELLCAT' FIGHTER AIRCRAFT. HIS SHIP TOOK PART IN NUMEROUS ENGAGEMENTS INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA AND THE BATTLE FOR LEYTE GULF IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. USS LEXINGTON WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION WHILE HE WAS ASSIGNED ABOARD. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT THE END OF DECEMBER, 1945 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.