World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John Kelley Click
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Farlee, Texas
Honored By
A Grateful American
HE ATTENDED SCHOOL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEFORE JOINING THE UNITED SATES NAVY IN 1940. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS WEST VIRGINIA IN 1940 AND WAS IN THE RADIO ROOM OF THE SHIP ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, WHILE IT WAS TIED UP AT PEARL HARBOR. AFTER THE USS WEST VIRGINIA WAS HIT BY SEVEN TORPEDOES AND TWO BOMBS, HE HEARD THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP. ONCE OVERBOARD, HE HAD TO SWIM AWAY FROM THE BURNING OIL ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER UNTIL HE WAS RETRIEVED BY A RESCUE BOAT IN THE HARBOR. AFTER SURVIVING THE ATTACK AT PEARL HARBOR, HE CONTINUED TO SERVE IN THE NAVY ON TWO OTHER SHIPS, AND HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 AS A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER.