World War II Honoree

Richard Lee Doye

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Lawton, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 23, 1945. TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA AND THEN WAS SENT TO THE PUGET SOUND NAVY YARD IN BREMERTON, WASHINGTON. THERE, ASSIGNED FOR DUTY ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS WASP (CV-18). SERVED AS A STOREKEEPER OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE USS WASP. HIS SHIP PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF TOKYO PLAINS. THE CARRIER WAS STANDING OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN WHEN THE ATOMIC BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON AUGUST 6, 1945 AND AUGUST 9, 1945. THE CARRIER'S GUNS ALSO SHOT DOWN THE LAST 'KAMIKAZE' SUICIDE PLANE OF THE WAR. AIRCRAFT FROM THE CARRIER DROPPED RELIEF SUPPLIES TO PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN JAPAN AFTER HOSTILITIES ENDED. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION ‘MAGIC CARPET’ AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. THIS WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL BY WARSHIPS AND TRANSPORT VESSELS FROM THEATER TO THE U.S.A. HIS SHIP MADE TRIPS TO EUROPE, INCLUDING TO ITALY AND ENGLAND. AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON AUGUST 20, 1946 WITH THE RATING OF STOREKEEPER THIRD CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.