World War II Honoree

Frank H. Gibbons

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Plainfield, Illinois

Honored By

Paul Gibbons

Relationship

Son

ON DECEMBER 6, 1940, AT AGE 24, HE RESPONDED TO PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT’S CALL FOR 100,000 MEN TO JOIN THE SERVICE AND ENLISTED IN THE NAVY FOR SIX YEARS. HE WAS TRAINED AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION AS A GUNNER'S MATE. ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 HE WAS ONBOARD THE USS DETROIT CL-8, MOORED TO FORD ISLAND, WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR. AFTER SEVERAL CONVOYS BETWEEN PEARL HARBOR AND SAN FRANCISCO, HE WAS TRANSFERRED IN APRIL 1942 TO THE USS GILLESPIE DD-609, A TIN CAN DESTROYER. DURING HIS TWO AND A HALF YEARS ON THE GILLESPIE HE SERVED IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, SOUTH PACIFIC, AND ATLANTIC OCEAN. IN SEPTEMBER 1944, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE COMMISSIONING CREW OF THE NEW LIGHT CRUISER USS PROVIDENCE CL-82 IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THE PROVIDENCE WAS IN THE CARIBBEAN STEAMING TOWARDS THE PANAMA CANAL ON ITS WAY TO JOIN THE FLEET GATHERING FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN, WHEN JAPAN SURRENDERED ON AUGUST 12, 1945, ENDING WWII. BEFORE BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY ON DECEMBER 29, 1946 AS A GUNNER'S MATE FIRST CLASS, HE TOURED THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND SURROUNDING COUNTRIES ON A POST WAR GOODWILL TOUR WITH THE PROVIDENCE.