World War II Honoree

John Arley Wilkerson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tucson, Arizona

Honored By

Rachele Artuso Wilkerson

Relationship

Wife

UPON GRADUATION FROM TUCSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN 1944, HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. FOLLOWING BOOT CAMP IN SAN DIEGO, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO USS REGULUS, A CARGO SHIP, WHICH DELIVERED SUPPLIES TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, GUAM, AND OKINAWA. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO THE USS BOXER, AN ESSEX-CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER. HE WAS DISCHARGED IN 1946 AS A PIPEFITTER THIRD CLASS.