World War II Honoree

Warren Upton Ober

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Prescott, Arkansas

Honored By

Jim Bemis and John Hesterly

Relationship

Friends

HIS SERVICE IN THE U.S. NAVY BEGAN ON JULY 1, 1943, SHORTLY AFTER HIS GRADUATION FROM PRESCOTT, ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER SOME MONTHS IN THE NAVY'S V-12 COLLEGE PROGRAM, HE WAS SENT TO NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY MIDSHIPMEN'S SCHOOL, WHERE ON GRADUATION HE WAS COMMISSIONED AS ENSIGN, U.S. NAVAL RESERVE. AFTER ATTENDING HARVARD UNIVERSITY NAVAL COMMUNICATION SCHOOL, HE THEN JOINED THE STAFF OF REAR ADMIRAL HOWARD F. KINGMAN, COMMANDER, BATTLESHIP DIVISION 9, AS A COMMUNICATION OFFICER. WHEN KINGMAN SUCCEEDED ADMIRAL WILLIAM F. HALSEY AS COMMANDER, 3RD FLEET, HE WAS THE MOST JUNIOR OFFICER AMONG STAFF MEMBERS CHOSEN TO ACCOMPANY THEN VICE ADMIRAL KINGMAN TO HIS NEW COMMAND. AS A MEMBER OF ADMIRAL KINGMAN'S STAFF FOR EIGHT MONTHS, HE SERVED ABOARD THE BATTLESHIPS WISCONSIN, MASSACHUSETTS, AND SOUTH DAKOTA, AND THE HEAVY CRUISER QUINCY. IN ADDITION TO HIS DUTIES AS COMMUNICATION WATCH OFFICER IN THE RADIO SHACK, HE SERVED AS REGISTERED PUBLICATIONS CUSTODIAN AND DIVISION OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL ATTACHED TO THE ADMIRAL'S STAFF. HE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATRE MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY INTO THE INACTIVE RESERVE ON JUNE 20, 1946.