World War II Honoree

Albert Leroy Hemphill

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Tryon, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

JOINED THE MERCHANT MARINE AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THE MERCHANT MARINE WAS A CIVILIAN AUXILIARY OF THE U.S. NAVY THAT OPERATED A FLEET OF CIVILIAN-OWNED SHIPS THAT CARRIED CARGO AND PASSENGERS TO ALL FRONTS. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC, AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATERS DURING THE WAR. EXPERIENCED SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS BUT CONSIDERED HIMSELF MOST FORTUNATE TO SURVIVE THOSE YEARS. AWARDED THE ATLANTIC WAR ZONE MEDAL, PACIFIC WAR ZONE MEDAL, VICTORY MEDAL, AND HONORABLE SERVICE BUTTON. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE MERCHANT MARINE SERVICE EMBLEM. RETURNED TO OKLAHOMA IN JUNE, 1946.