World War II Honoree

Donald Ray 'Don' Atteberry

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Shidler, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE FLEET SUBMARINE USS CAIMAN (SS-323). SAILED FROM PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON HIS FIRST WAR PATROL ON NOVEMBER 13, 1944. AFTER PAUSING AT SAIPAN, THE SUBMARINE PUSHED ON TO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, WHERE SHE COMBINED OFFENSIVE PATROL WITH LIFEGUARD DUTY AS A PART OF AIR-SEA RESCUE OPERATIONS TO SAVE DOWNED AVIATORS. HIS BOAT RETURNED TO FREMANTLE, AUSTRALIA, ON JANUARY 22, 1945 TO REFIT. HIS SECOND PATROL, PERFORMED IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND OFF THE GULF OF SIAM, LASTED FROM FEBRUARY 18-APRIL 6, 1945. ON HIS THIRD PATROL, WHICH BEGAN AT SUBIC BAY IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON APRIL 28, 1945, CAIMAN SANK TWO SMALL SCHOONERS. RETURNING TO FREMANTLE ON JUNE 27, 1945, FROM HER PATROL AREA OFF SOUTHERN INDO-CHINA AND WESTERN BORNEO, THE SUBMARINE REFITTED FOR HER NEXT MISSION. ON HIS FOURTH WAR PATROL, HIS BOAT PERFORMED THREE DANGEROUS SPECIAL MISSIONS, INVOLVING LANDING AND LATER EVACUATING AGENTS FROM THE COAST OF JAVA. ON THIS PATROL, WHICH TOOK PLACE FROM JULY 22, 1945 TO THE END OF HOSTILITIES, CAIMAN SANK ANOTHER JAPANESE SCHOONER. HIS SUB RETURNED TO SUBIC BAY ON AUGUST 19, 1945 AND THEN SAILED FOR THE WEST COAST. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.