World War II Honoree

Pat White

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE ATTACK TRANSPORT SHIP USS ARTHUR MIDDLETON (APA-25). PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS OFF KWAJALEIN ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS FROM JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 15, 1944 AND LANDED ASSAULT TROOPS AT ENGEBI ISLAND ON FEBRUARY 17, 1944 AND PARRY ISLAND FROM FEBRUARY 21-22, 1944. THEN SAILED TO HAWAII WITH AMERICAN WOUNDED AND JAPANESE PRISONERS OF WAR. TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS AT SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS FROM JUNE 15-23, 1944 DEBARKING PASSENGERS AND CARGO AND TAKING ABOARD WOUNDED FOR TRANSPORTATION BACK TO HAWAII. ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS TO LIBERATE THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AT LEYTE GULF FROM OCTOBER 20-24, AND RETURNED ON NOVEMBER 14, 1944 CARRYING TROOPS AND SUPPLIES; FOUGHT AT LINGAYEN GULF AT LUZON BEGINNING JANUARY 9, 1945 TO OFF-LOAD TROOPS IN THE FACE OF INTENSE ENEMY AIR ATTACKS. DURING THE ATTACKS, 15 SHIPMATES WERE WOUNDED BY SHRAPNEL FROM FRIENDLY FIRES FROM OTHER SHIPS ENGAGING THE JAPANESE PLANES. THEN ENGAGED IN DISCHARGING TROOPS AND CARGO AT OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS FROM APRIL 1-5, 1945. HIS SHIP WAS IN PORT IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FOR OVERHAUL WHEN THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED ON AUGUST 14, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION ‘MAGIC CARPET’ AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. THIS WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL BY WARSHIPS AND TRANSPORT VESSELS FROM THEATER TO THE U.S.A. 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 IN 1946 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. CONTINUED IN U.S. NAVY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED.