World War II Honoree

Ted D. Best

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Walters, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

RECEIVED HIS DRAFT NOTICE SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN JUNE, 1942. HE SERVED FOR 42 MONTHS, AND THREE OF HIS BROTHERS ALSO SERVED IN THE MILITARY DURING THE WAR. HE AND HIS TWIN BROTHER WERE SENT TOGETHER TO THE NAVAL TRAINING CENTER AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FOR BASIC TRAINING. UPON COMPLETION, HE WAS REASSIGNED TO THE NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL (ELECTRICAL) AT THE NAVAL RESERVE ARMORY IN SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI FOR ELECTRICAL TRAINING. AFTER GRADUATION, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE LANDING SHIP TANK USS LST-353. HIS SHIP SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION, VIA THE PANAMA CANAL AND ARRIVED AT NEW CALEDONIA ISLAND ON THE NORTHEAST APPROACH TO AUSTRALIA AFTER SOME 66 DAYS AT SEA. SERVED AS AN ELECTRICIAN’S MATE OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA ABOARD LST-353. PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW GEORGIA-RENDOVA-VANGUNU OCCUPATION IN JULY, 1943; VELLA LAVELLA OCCUPATION IN AUGUST, 1943; AND OCCUPATION AND DEFENSE OF CAPE TOROKINA IN NOVEMBER, 1943. AT NEW CALEDONIA, THEY UNLOADED THEIR CARGO, TOOK ABOARD A NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION, AND SAILED IN CONVOY FOR GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. UPON ARRIVAL, THE CONVOY WAS ATTACKED BY OVER 50 JAPANESE AIRPLANES IN WHAT WAS HIS FIRST ENGAGEMENT WITH ENEMY FORCES. HIS BATTLE STATION WAS AS GUNNER ON A 40-MM ANTIAIRCRAFT GUN. HE AND HIS SHIPMATES AND OTHER SHIPS AND FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT TOOK THE ENEMY UNDER FIRE IN A 3-HOUR BATTLE. ALTHOUGH ONE LST WAS SUNK, THE JAPANESE LOST ALL BUT THREE OF ITS AIRCRAFT, AND HIS SHIP WAS CREDITED WITH SHOOTING DOWN 2 1/2 ENEMY PLANES. THE PRIMARY DUTY OF HIS SHIP WAS TO TRANSPORT CARGO AND TROOPS BETWEEN ISLANDS, AND EVACUATE CASUALTIES. IN PERFORMING THIS MISSION, THE SHIP WAS OFTEN TAKEN UNDER FIRE BUT NOT SUNK. ONE DAY, WHILE HIS SHIP WAS MOORED AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII UNLOADING AMMUNITION, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION ON BOARD. THAT EXPLOSION TRIGGERED A CHAIN REACTION OF EXPLOSIONS AND FIRE ON OTHER VESSELS MOORED NEARBY. HIS SHIP AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS SANK ON MAY 21, 1944, AND THERE WAS MUCH LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURIES AND DAMAGE TO FACILITIES. AFTER HIS SHIP WAS SUNK, HE WAS REASSIGNED TO THE AMERICAN AREA AT THE AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING BASE AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON JANUARY 6, 1946 WITH THE RATE OF ELECTRICIAN’S MATE FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.