World War II Honoree

Scott R. Askew

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1940, MOVED TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TO WORK FOR LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT COMPANY. JOINED THE MARINE CORPS AFTER THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH MARINE FIGHTER SQUADRON VMF-223. HIS WAS THE FIRST FIGHTER SQUADRON DEPLOYED IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AND ARRIVED ON GUADALCANAL ON AUGUST 20, 1942. OPERATED FROM GUADALCANAL UNTIL FEBRUARY, 1943 WHEN THE GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN ENDED. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT RABAUL ON NEW BRITAIN IN FEBRUARY, 1944 AND ALSO IN OTHER OPERATIONS IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO. THEN TOOK PART IN COMBAT OPERATIONS TO LIBERATE THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BEGINNING IN JANUARY, 1945. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.