World War II Honoree

Billie Dean 'Bill' Workman

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Perry, Noble County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD BEFORE ENLISTING IN THE MARINE CORPS 6 DAYS BEFORE THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER FOR SOME 39 MONTHS AND MADE 5 LANDINGS. SERVED ON THE FRENCH ISLAND OF NEW CALEDONIA, ON THE NORTHEAST APPROACH TO AUSTRALIA; SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS; GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS; TARAWA ATOLL IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS; AND ENIWETOK ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. ALSO WENT TO HIROSHIMA, JAPAN WHICH WAS THE TARGET OF THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB ATTACK, AND KOREA. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH BRONZE LETTER 'V' FOR VALOR IN COMBAT, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. CONTINUED IN U.S. MARINE CORPS SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL. ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.