World War II Honoree

Keith L. Arterburn

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Lamar, Nebraska

Honored By

Steve Spady

Relationship

Nephew

RADARMAN 3RD CLASS, SERVED IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC ONBOARD THE USS BATAAN CVL-29. ON 6 AUGUST 1945, HE WAS ON DUTY WHEN THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER ADVISED RADAR OPERATORS TO BE ON WATCH FOR A LONE AIRCRAFT TRANSITING THEIR AREA. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALONE AND NOT BEING TRACKED BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT. AT THE APPOINTED HOUR THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED AS A SMALL SOLO BLIP TO EVENTUALLY DEPART THE RADAR SCREEN. ON HIS NEXT BREAK, HE WENT TO THE FLIGHT DECK AND OBSERVED THE MUSHROOM CLOUD. THE BLIP HAD BEEN THE ENOLA GAY. THE TARGET WAS HIROSHIMA. AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE WAR, THE USS BATAAN SERVED IN TOKYO BAY WITH PROTECTIVE AIR COVER AND A MARINE CONTINGENT ON SHORE.