World War II Honoree

Thomas Henry Ament

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Kingston Springs, Tennessee

Honored By

Children & Family

MACHINIST MATE 3RD CLASS ABOARD THE USS BIG HORN IX-207 AN OIL TANKER IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. AFTER LOADING 84,000 BARRELS OF OIL AT ARUBA, NETHERLANDS WEST INDIES, ON 18 MARCH 1945, THE USS BIG HORN PASSED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL ON 21 MARCH AND REPORTED TO THE SERVICE FORCE, PACIFIC FLEET, THAT SAME DAY. STEAMING WEST, BIG HORN STOPPED AT PEARL HARBOR IN EARLY APRIL BEFORE SAILING ON TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, WHERE SHE ANCHORED AT ULITHI ON 1 MAY. ASSIGNED TO SERVICE SQUADRON 10 (SERVRON 10), THE SHUTTLE TANKER CARRIED OIL TO KOSSOL ROADS AND PELELIU IN THE WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS IN EARLY MAY BEFORE MOVING ON TO TACLOBAN IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS LATER IN THE MONTH. RETURNING TO ULITHI ON 3 JUNE, SHE LOADED MORE OIL AND DELIVERED IT TO LEYTE ON THE 9TH. OVER THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS, BIG HORN CARRIED OUT THREE MORE OF THESE SHUTTLE MISSIONS FROM ULITHI TO LEYTE. THE TANKER SAILED TO OKINAWA ON 11 AUGUST AND SHE WAS AT THAT ISLAND ON 15 AUGUST 1945, WHEN HER CREW HEARD THE NEWS OF THE JAPANESE SURRENDER.