World War II Honoree

Angel P. Gandara

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

El Paso, Texas

Honored By

Rosa, Angel Jr., Anna, Heriberto, Geraldine & Emily

Relationship

Wife & Children

ENTERED NAVAL RESERVE JANUARY 1944 AT LORDSBURG, NEW MEXICO AND FINISHED BASIC IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA APRIL 1944. SENT TO NORMAN, OKLAHOMA FOR AVIATION ORDINANCE TRAINING FOR LOADING .30, .45, .50 CALIBER, 20MM CANNON AND TORPEDO ARMING. TROOP TRAINED TO SHOEMAKER, CALIFORNIA WAITING FOR OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT, SENT BY LIBERTY SHIP TO LONG BEACH AND BOARDED BATTLESHIP BB-41 USS MISSISSIPPI ARRIVING FORD ISLAND, HAWAII JULY, 1944. AUGUST 16, 1944 LEFT FORD ISLAND FOR ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ABOARD CARRIER CVE-83 USS SARGENT BAY TO MANUS ISLAND FOR REFITTING AND REPLENISHMENT. SEPTEMBER, 1944, ARRIVED OFF PALAU ISLAND GROUP DURING THE INVASION OF PELELIU. AT LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS OCTOBER 20, 1944 PERFORMING AIRCRAFT RELOADS AND ARMAMENT FOR TORPEDO BOMBERS (GRUMMAN TBM AVENGER). JANUARY 1945, ARMED TBM AVENGERS FOR STRIKES AGAINST LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. ANCHORED AWAITING ORDERS IN WESTERN CAROLINE ISLAND GROUP OFF ULITHI ATOLL AS NEW ASSIGNMENT SENT HIS BATTLE GROUP TO IWO JIMA FEBRUARY 16 TO PROVIDE AIR SUPPORT FOR U.S. LANDINGS. PROVIDED AIR SUPPORT DURING THE OKINAWA CAMPAIGN FROM MARCH 25 THROUGH JUNE 20 AND WITNESSED KAMIKAZE ATTACKS. WITNESSED KAMIKAZE HIT THROUGH CARRIER NATOMA BAY'S ELEVATORS AND CARRIER CVE WAKE ISLAND SUSTAINED TWO SUICIDE KAMIKAZE HITS AT SHIP'S WATER LINE. SENT TO GUAM ISLAND FOR REPAIRS MAY 15 THROUGH JUNE 2 AND SAILED FOR OVERHAUL ARRIVING SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA ON AUGUST 9, 1945. DEPARTED FOR LEAVE AND RETURNED TO CARRIER SARGENT BAY, SEPTEMBER 1945 SAILING TO THE MARSHALL ISLAND OF ENIWETOK, DISEMBARKING AT KWAJALEIN. SAILED TO U.S. RETURNING ABOARD LIGHT CRUISER USS OAKLAND DURING 'MAGIC CARPET' RUNS TO ALAMEDA NAVAL AIR STATION DECEMBER 24, 1945 AND HONORABLY SEPARATED AT SAN DIEGO. RECEIVED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE CAMPAIGN STARS AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. FOREIGN AWARDS: PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE STARS FOR LEYTE AND LUZON BATTLES. NAVY SERIAL NUMBER: 84 269 24.