World War II Honoree

Charles R. 'Gil' Gilman

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Seattle, Washington

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC WITH MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT (MTB) SQUADRONS SOUTH PACIFIC. FURTHER ASSIGNED TO MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT SQUADRON 19 (RON 19) AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER (XO) IN FEBRUARY, 1944. ALSO SERVED WITH THE RON 19 BASE FORCE AS A DIVISION LEADER. HIS SQUADRON WAS BASED BRIEFLY ON RENDOVA ISLAND IN THE NEW GEORGIA ISLAND GROUP IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, AND BEGINNING MARCH 10, 1944, AT A NEW FORWARD BASE ON GREEN ISLAND, BETWEEN BOUGAINVILLE IN THE SOLOMONS AND NEW IRELAND IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO. FROM THEIR BASE ON GREEN ISLAND, HIS SQUADRON PATROLLED NORTHERN BOUGAINVILLE, AND BUKA IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS; AND NEW BRITAIN AND NEW IRELAND IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, TO INTERDICT ENEMY SHIPPING, GATHER INTELLIGENCE, AND HARASS JAPANESE FORCES ASHORE WITH WEAPONS FIRE. ON MAY 15, 1944, HIS SQUADRON WAS DECOMMISSIONED AND HE WAS REASSIGNED. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.