World War II Honoree

Jerry B. Willhite

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Sheldon, Missouri

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED ABOARD THE ESCORT AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS SAGINAW BAY (CVE-82) FROM 1943-1946 INCLUDING OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. FOLLOWING A SHAKEDOWN CRUISE OFF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, HIS SHIP LOADED AIRCRAFT AND THEIR PILOTS FOR TRANSPORT TO HAWAII AND DEPARTED ON APRIL 15, 1944. REACHED PEARL HARBOR ON APRIL 21, 1944, EXCHANGED CARGO FOR DAMAGED PLANES, AND RETURNED TO ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA. THE CARRIER CONDUCTED PILOT QUALIFICATIONS OFF SAN DIEGO DURING MAY AND EARLY JUNE AND COMPLETED A SECOND FERRY MISSION TO PEARL HARBOR ON JULY 5, 1944. SAILED FROM PEARL HARBOR ON JULY 9, 1944 AND TRANSPORTED AIRCRAFT TO ENIWETOK AND MAJURO ATOLLS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. HIS SHIP PROVIDED AIR COVER FOR THE AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS AT PELELIU AND ANGAUR IN THE PALAU ISLANDS IN SEPTEMBER. THEN SAILED FROM SEEADLER HARBOR, MANUS IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS ON OCTOBER 14, 1944 TO BEGIN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BY SUPPORTING LANDINGS AT LEYTE. USS SAGINAW BAY WAS ANCHORED IN SEEADLER HARBOR ON NOVEMBER 10, 1944 WHEN THE AMMUNITION SHIP USS MOUNT HOOD WAS LITERALLY BLOWN TO PIECES BY AN INTERNAL EXPLOSION. HIS SHIP SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE FROM THE FORCE OF THE BLAST AND THEN HELPED TO CARE FOR MEN OF VARIOUS SHIPS WHO HAD BEEN STRUCK BY DEBRIS FROM THE DISINTEGRATED SHIP. SUPPORTED AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS AT LINGAYEN GULF IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FROM JANUARY 2-21, 1945. THEN PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE IWO JIMA ASSAULT LANDINGS ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945; AND SUPPORTED OPERATIONS THERE UNTIL MARCH 11, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE PRE-INVASION STRIKES AGAINST OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS BEGINNING ON MARCH 25, 1945; CONTINUED SUPPORT OPERATIONS DURING THE INVASION ON APRIL 1, 1945; AND THEN SUPPORTED AMERICAN FORCES ASHORE UNTIL APRIL 29, 1945. THE CARRIER ARRIVED AT SAN DIEGO ON MAY 22, 1945; AND LATER, TRANSPORTED AIRCRAFT TO GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS IN AUGUST. HIS SHIP WAS EN ROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS ON AUGUST 14, 1945, AND ARRIVED BACK IN SAN DIEGO BY AUGUST 20, 1945. THEN ENGAGED IN TRAINING OPERATIONS IN THE HAWAIIAN AREA UNTIL PARTICIPATING IN ‘MAGIC CARPET’ DUTY, WHICH WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF COMBAT VETERANS FROM THEATER TO THE UNITED STATES. DEPARTED HAWAII ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1945 AND EMBARKED VETERANS AT SAMAR AND LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. HIS SHIP SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A SECOND ‘MAGIC CARPET’ VOYAGE TO OKINAWA, AND BACK. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.