World War II Honoree

Lewis D. Whitaker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

St. George, Utah

Honored By

Barrett D. Whitaker

Relationship

Son

HE JOINED THE NAVY IN OCTOBER 1944, WENT TO SAN DIEGO FOR NINE WEEKS OF BOOT CAMP, THEN GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI FOR QUARTERMASTERS SCHOOL FOR 16 WEEKS. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC, SPENT CHRISTMAS 1945 IN SHANGHAI, CHINA. USING JAPANESE MAPS TO LOCATE MINE FIELDS, HE SERVED ON A MINESWEEPER, SWEEPING MINES ALONG THE COAST OF CHINA DOWN TO FORMOSA AND HAINAN ISLAND, OFF FRENCH INDOCHINA. SINCE THERE WAS NO NEED FOR A MINESWEEPER BACK IN THE UNITED STATES, THE WMS-338 WAS DECOMMISSIONED IN SUBIC BAY, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND HE RETURNED HOME TO SAN DIEGO ON A TROOP SHIP. HE RECEIVED HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN SHOEMAKER, CALIFORNIA THE END OF JUNE 1946. RIBBONS RECEIVED: ASIATIC-PACIFIC WITH ONE BATTLE STAR, AMERICAN AREA RIBBON AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL RIBBON.