World War II Honoree

Carl Gardner

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Kingston, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE SEABEES IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 18TH NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION. HIS BATTALION WAS ATTACHED TO THE 2ND MARINE DIVISION FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR. DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1942. ARRIVED AT NOMEA, NEW CALEDONIA ON NOVEMBER 11, 1942. SERVED ON GUADALCANAL, IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, IN DECEMBER, 1942. THERE, HIS UNIT BUILT FIGHTER STRIP 1 (LUNGA FIELD). LANDED ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS IN JUNE, 1944 AND WORKED AS SHORE PARTY, ON ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND BUILT A HOSPITAL. TOOK PART IN THE TINIAN OPERATION IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS IN JULY, 1944 WHERE HIS BATTALION BUILT CAMP CHURO FOR DISPLACED JAPANESE AND KOREAN CIVILIANS, AND ALSO BUILT A HOSPITAL. WHILE ON TINIAN, SEABEES WERE SUBJECTED TO FREQUENT SNIPER FIRE AND SPORADIC JAPANESE ATTACKS. REMAINED ON TINIAN UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.