World War II Honoree

Lester Gene Heitland

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Clear Lake, Iowa

Honored By

Janis Garrard, Doris Perau, Bonnie Farman, Greg Heitland, Glen Heitland

Relationship

Children

1943-1945 ASSIGNED TO USS DETROIT (LIGHT CRUISER) WITH THE 3RD AND 5TH BATTLE FLEETS AS A GUNNERY OFFICER UNTIL SHIP WAS DECOMMISSIONED IN DECEMBER 1945. WITNESSED MACARTHUR SIGN THE PEACE TREATY AT TOKYO BAY, JAPAN FROM THE BIRD NEST ABOARD SHIP. PORTS OF CALL AND BATTLES FOUGHT IN: IWO JIMA, JAPAN; MARSHALL GILBERT ISLANDS, SOUTH CHINA SEA; OKINAWA, JAPAN; AND PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 1945-1946 ASSIGNED TO USS NEW KENT (TROOP TRANSPORT) AS FC3, EXPERTISE IN FIRE CONTROL OF 6 INCH GUNS, 5 INCH GUNS AND QUAD 40'S. AWARDED: 3 BATTLE STARS PLUS THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN MEDAL. HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN 1946.