World War II Honoree

Niel McKee Coulter

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Richmond, California

Honored By

Martin Crane

Relationship

Family Friend

HE WORKED AS AN AIRCRAFT SHEETMETAL WORKER FOR LOCKEED IN BURBANK, CALIFORNIA FROM 1941 TO 1943. HE JOINED THE NAVY ON JUNE 23, 1943. AFTER RECRUIT TRAINING IN SAN DIEGO AND LANDING CRAFT SCHOOL, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS GUNSTON HALL LSD-5. THIS SHIP WAS USED TO REPAIR NAVY CRAFT AT THE SCENE OF AN ASSAULT. HE SAW ACTION AT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, BISMARCK-ARCHIPELAGO, HOLLANDIA OPERATION, THE MARIANA AND WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS, LEYTE, LUZON, IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA GUNTO. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON NOVEMBER 13, 1945, AS A QUARTERMASTER FIRST CLASS. HE EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH NINE BRONZE STAR DEVICES, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE STAR DEVICES. HE WAS AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE INSIGNIA.