World War II Honoree

Daniel G. Gardner

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Waverly, Iowa

Honored By

M. J. Lynett

JOINED THE UNITED STATES NAVY ON NOVEMBER 15, 1939, EMBARKING ON A 21 YEAR CAREER, 13 OF THOSE YEARS WHICH WERE SERVED EITHER AT SEA OR ON FOREIGN SOIL. HIS FIRST SHIP ASSIGNMENT WAS ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP THE USS MISSISSIPPI AND LASTED 55 MONTHS. HE ADVANCED THROUGH SEVEN ENLISTED RANKS BECOMING, FOR A TIME, THE YOUNGEST WARRANT OFFICER IN U.S. NAVY HISTORY. ABOARD THE MISSISSIPPI, PARTICIPATED IN NEUTRALITY PATROL CONVOY DUTY IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC IN THE MONTHS BEFORE THE ATTACKS ON PEARL HARBOR. PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL IMPORTANT BATTLES INCLUDING THE INVASION OF THE FIJI ISLANDS, THE LIBERATION OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, THE INVASION OF THE GILBERT ISLANDS, THE MARSHALL ISLAND CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING ASSAULTS ON KWAJALEIN, WOJTE, AND KAVEINY, NEW IRELAND, AND THE KURLI ISLANDS CAMPAIGN.