World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
George Bethel Cross
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Cumberland, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
AFTER SEA TRIALS, TESTS, AND TRAINING IN LAKE MICHIGAN, HIS SUBMARINE WAS FLOATED DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ARRIVED IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA ON DECEMBER 13, 1944. IT DEPARTED NEW ORLEANS FOR THE PACIFIC ON DECEMBER 17, 1944. HE SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE SUBMARINE USS LAMPREY (SS-372) FROM 1944-1945. PARTICIPATED IN PATROLS, PRIMARILY IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN AREA, WITH DUTIES TO LOAD TORPEDOES. ORIGINALLY, HIS DUTIES INCLUDED 'BLOWING THE BALLAST' TO CAUSE THE SUB TO DIVE. SAILED FROM PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON FEBRUARY 17, 1945 FOR THE COAST OF LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND HIS FIRST WAR PATROL. THE SUB PERFORMED LIFE GUARD DUTIES OFF FORMOSA AND HONG KONG UNTIL MARCH 29, 1945; TRANSITED THE SINGAPORE STRAITS ON APRIL 8, 1945; AND STEAMED THROUGH THE KARIMATA STRAITS INTO THE JAVA SEA. THE SUBMARINE THEN PUT IN AT FREMANTLE, AUSTRALIA ON APRIL 22, 1945. SAILED FROM FREMANTLE ON MAY 21, 1945 AND ENTERED THE JAVA SEA, BOUND FOR A PATROL AREA IN THE SIAM GULF. HIS SUB AND ANOTHER COORDINATED A GUN ATTACK WHICH DAMAGED AND SET FIRE TO AN ENEMY ESCORT SHIP ON MAY 28, 1945. HIS SUB THEN SET COURSE FOR SUBIC BAY IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ARRIVING ON JUNE 29, 1945. THE SUBMARINE RETURNED TO SEA ON JULY 26, 1945, FOR HIS THIRD WAR PATROL, SEARCHING FOR TARGETS ALONG THE GULF OF SIAM. USS LAMPREY ENTERED THE SINGAPORE AREA ON AUGUST 8, 1945 TO PATROL WEST OF PENGIBOE ISLAND WHERE SHE SANK A SMALL CRAFT WITH GUNFIRE. THEN, THE BOAT HEADED FOR BORNEO. ON AUGUST 12, 1945, HER GUNS DESTROYED A CARGO-CARRYING LUGGER FROM SURABAYA; AND ON AUGUST 15, 1945 RECEIVED WORD TO CEASE HOSTILITIES. ITS WARTIME MISSION COMPLETED, HIS SUBMARINE DEPARTED SUBIC BAY ON AUGUST 31, 1945 AND ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1945. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN OCTOBER, 1945 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.