World War II Honoree

Herbert Edward Bass

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Edenton, North Carolina

Honored By

Dave Bass

Relationship

Grandson

OFFICER IN THE 855TH 'ALL NEGRO' ENGINEERS (AVIATION) BATTALION, ONBOARD THE CAPE SAN JUAN IN TRANSIT FROM CALIFORNIA TO AUSTRALIA WHEN IT WAS TORPEDOED BY JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-21 ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, 1943, APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FIJI. AWARDED THE SOLDIERS MEDAL FOR VALOR FOR EFFORTS SAVING MEN WHEN THE SHIP WAS SINKING. HE CONTINUED SERVING INTO THE KOREAN WAR.