World War II Honoree

Jack Eddleman

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hugo, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN OCTOBER, 1941. AFTER BOOT CAMP IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, SHIPPED OVERSEAS TO THE SUBMARINE BASE AT HONOLULU, HAWAII. HE WAS PRESENT ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR. HE WAS A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR. REMAINED AT PEARL HARBOR UNTIL REASSIGNED TO THE MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT (MTB) TENDER USS SILENUS (AGP-11) WHICH WAS BEING CONVERTED AT BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. HIS SHIP WAS ASSIGNED TO DUTY WITH THE PACIFIC FLEET IN SEPTEMBER, 1944; TRANSITED THE PANAMA CANAL ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1944 AND ARRIVED AT TULAGI, IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, ON OCTOBER 27, 1944. THERE, TENDED MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS UNTIL DECEMBER 26, 1944. SAILED TO THE TREASURY ISLANDS IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AND THEN TO ESPIRITU SANTO IN THE NEW HEBRIDES, ARRIVING ON FEBRUARY 23, 1945. REMAINED THERE TENDING MTB UNTIL AUGUST 9, 1945, THE DAY THE ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED ON NAGASAKI, JAPAN. SAILED TO OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS AND ARRIVED THERE ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1945, FIVE DAYS AFTER THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS. AUTHORIZED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RATE OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICER AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.