World War II Honoree

Edward D.H. 'Ed' Edmisten

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Prague, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER, 1939. ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY IN 1940 AT AGE 17. ASSIGNED TO THE BATTLESHIP USS OKLAHOMA (BB-37) LATE IN 1940. HE WAS A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR OF THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. THAT MORNING, HIS SHIP WAS STRUCK BY FIVE TO SEVEN ENEMY TORPEDOES WITHIN 15 MINUTES AND CAPSIZED. SERVED INITIALLY AS A MACHINIST'S MATE IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. APPLIED, AND WAS SELECTED FOR PILOT TRAINING. UPON COMPLETION WAS AWARDED GOLD NAVAL AVIATOR WINGS AND COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN. FLEW SBD-3 'DAUNTLESS', TBF 'AVENGER', F4F 'WILDCAT', AND F6F 'HELLCAT' AIRCRAFT AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING HIS SERVICE. DURING A MISSION IN AUGUST, 1945, IN THE PACIFIC, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN AND HE WENT INTO THE SEA. HE WAS RESCUED, MEDICALLY TREATED FOR INJURIES, AND EVACUATED TO THE UNITED STATES. THERE, HE REQUIRED EXTENSIVE HOSPITALIZATION AND TREATMENT OVER A PERIOD EXCEEDING TWO YEARS BEFORE BEING RELEASED. AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 'FLEET' CLASP, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1948 WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.