World War II Honoree

Eugene T. Wilkinson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Montrose, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

SERVED ABOARD THE CRUISER, USS HOUSTON, CA-30 IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND THE JAVA SEA. SURVIVED THE SINKING OF HIS SHIP DURING THE BATTLE OF SUNDA STRAIT AND WAS CAPTURED BY THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES. HELD CAPTIVE AS A PRISONER OF WAR FOR 42 MONTHS AND WAS USED AS A SLAVE LABORER UNTIL HIS LIBERATION IN SEPTEMBER OF 1945. ENTERED THE NAVY IN AUGUST 1940 AND RECEIVED HIS TRAINING AT THE U.S. NAVAL TRAINING STATION, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. DECORATIONS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 1 BATTLE STAR, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER BATTLE STAR AND 5 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON.