World War II Honoree

John L. Hankins

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Merchantville, New Jersey

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY BUT INSTEAD ENLISTED INTO THE U.S. NAVY AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT. DUE TO HIS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE AND WITH COMPLETION OF RADAR OFFICER TRAINING AT DARTMOUTH, BOWDAIN AND M.I.T. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS WAKE ISLAND IN APRIL OF 1943 AND SAW ACTION IN THE EUROPEAN AND PACIFIC THEATERS INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA AND THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHEN HIS SHIP WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY A KAMIKAZE HIT. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN MARCH OF 1946.