World War II Honoree

Wilder James 'Jim' Waite

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE ON JULY 27, 1945, AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THE WAR IN EUROPE WAS OVER AS HE WENT TO 'BOOT CAMP' AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, AND THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC WOULD BE OVER BEFORE HE COMPLETED HIS BASIC TRAINING. SHIPPED OVERSEAS TO GUAM, A U.S.A. TERRITORY IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, IN THE NORTH WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. HIS DUTIES INCLUDED WORKING ON POWER DIESEL ENGINES FOR GENERATORS. SERVED BRIEFLY UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946, ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THE ATOMIC BOMB HAD BEEN DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA, JAPAN. ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.