World War II Honoree

Donald H. Watness

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Indianapolis, Indiana

Relationship

Self

SEAMAN-HELMSMAN. ENLISTED AT INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, WITH BOOT TRAINING AT FORT PICKETT, BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA. ASSIGNED TO THE NAVY REPAIR SHIP, USS AJAX, AR-6, FOR WORK AT ULITHI, SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, IN SUPPORT OF NAVAL VESSELS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, IWO JIMA, AND OKINAWA CAMPAIGNS. THEN TO SAN PEDRO BAY, LEYTE GULF, FOR PREPARATION FOR THE ASSAULT ON JAPAN. TRANSFERRED AS HELMSMAN TO THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS LEXINGTON, CV-16, AND RETURNED AT WAR'S END TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, THEN TO NEW YORK FOR SEPARATIONS FROM THE SERVICE. DRAFTED DURING THE KOREAN CONFLICT INTO THE U.S. ARMY AND SERVED IN GERMANY WITH THE 743RD ORDNANCE COMPANY (TANK RETRIEVAL) ATTAINING THE RANK OF CORPORAL.