World War II Honoree

Joe W. Willoughby

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Mina J. Willoughby

Relationship

Wife

YEOMAN FIRST CLASS, ENLISTED AND COMPLETED EXTENSIVE TRAINING AT THE BROADHEAD NAVAL ARMORY, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. SERVED ABOARD THE NEWLY COMMISSIONED ATTACK TRANSPORT VESSEL USS BARROW, APA-61, WITH VOYAGES OF NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALIONS (SEABEES) TO TINIAN; MARINES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE ASSAULT ON IWO JIMA; TRANSFERRING AMMUNITION TO OTHER WAR SHIPS; AND RETURNING THE WOUNDED TO SAIPAN. THEN DELIVERING TROOPS OF THE U.S. SECOND MARINE DIVISION FOR THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA LANDINGS AS WELL AS FIRING ON KAMIKAZE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ASSAULT. ALSO SERVED AS THE FLAGSHIP FOR AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON 5; THEN PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION 'MAGIC CARPET', THE RETURN OF VETERANS HOME AND DISCHARGE. RETURNED AT WAR'S END TO DETROIT FOR SEPARATION FROM THE SERVICE.