World War II Honoree

Clarence Arnold 'Bud' Gilbert

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Warsaw, Kentucky

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

JOINED THE MILITARY IN 1940, AT AGE 18, ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE THE UNITED STATES FORMALLY ENTERED THE WAR. A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR, HE WAS IN HAWAII FOR A TEMPORARY THREE-MONTH TOUR OF DUTY AT THE TIME OF THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 7, 1941. HE WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION AND HE AND OTHERS MADE THEIR WAY DOWN TO THE HARBOR. HE DESCRIBED THE SITUATION AS MASS CONFUSION, WITH SMOKE SO THICK THAT YOU COULD NOT SEE. HE WAS SENT BACK TO THE BARRACKS TO COLLECT SHEETS AND BRING THEM TO THE SEAWALL. AN EXPLOSION KNOCKED HIM DOWN, BROKE HIS JAW AND FORCED HIS TEETH PERMANENTLY OUT OF LINE. HE CARRIED ON AND SUBSEQUENTLY CARED FOR THE DEAD, DYING AND WOUNDED BY WRAPPING THEM IN SHEETS OR TENDING TO THEIR INJURIES. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AREA DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING ON GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS AND IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ENGAGED IN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. CAPTURED BY A JAPANESE GUNBOAT AND TAKEN AS A PRISONER OF WAR (POW) IN 1944, WHEN HIS PLANE RAN OUT OF FUEL WHILE SEARCHING FOR A DOWNED AIRCRAFT, AND WENT DOWN IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. HE WAS SENT TO JAPAN AND MOVED BY TRAIN TO A PRISON CAMP IN NORTHERN JAPAN, WHERE HE SPENT ABOUT THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AS A POW. LIVED IN A TENT IN THE CAMP WITH 10 OTHER PRISONERS. HE AND THE OTHERS WORKED IN A COAL MINE AND THEIR DAILY FOOD RATION WAS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF COAL THEY MINED. WHEN THE JAPANESE LEARNED THAT HE COULD WORK ON AIRCRAFT, HE WAS FORCED TO TEST PLANE PARTS AT A KAMIKAZE BASE WHILE A POW. ONE OF THE ATOMIC BOMBS WAS DROPPED ABOUT 75 MILES FROM THE CAMP WHERE HE WAS BEING HELD. WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER, HE WAS LIBERATED, TAKEN TO TOKYO BAY BY TRAIN, AND WITNESSED THE FORMAL SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO THE ALLIES ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS MISSOURI (BB-63) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945. HE WAS ON THE DECK OF THE USS MISSOURI WHEN THE TREATY WAS SIGNED. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. CONTINUED IN MILITARY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND RETIRED WITH THE RATE OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICER.