World War II Honoree

Allen 'Mern' Hegge

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Lake Stevens, Washington

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE ESCORT AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS CAPE ESPERANCE (CVE-88). ASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC FLEET, HIS SHIP MADE TWO VOYAGES FROM THE WEST COAST TO SOUTH PACIFIC BASES BETWEEN MAY 26-SEPTEMBER 20, 1944. THE SHIP CARRIED NEW AIRCRAFT OUTBOUND, AND RETURNED WITH PLANES NEEDING REPAIRS. SAILED FROM SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ON OCTOBER 5, 1944 AND SUPPORTED 3RD FLEET AIR STRIKES ON LEYTE AND LUZON, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, BEGINNING NOVEMBER 2, 1944. THE CARRIER OPERATED FROM ULITHI ATOLL IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS AND GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS THROUGH JANUARY, 1945 CARRYING REPLACEMENT AIRCRAFT FOR STRIKES ON JAPANESE AIR BASES ON FORMOSA AND THE CHINA COAST. RETURNED TO THE WEST COAST IN FEBRUARY, 1945 TO LOAD NEW AIRCRAFT FOR GUAM. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF SUCH VOYAGES IN WHICH THE CARRIER BROUGHT A LARGE NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC, IN THE LAST MONTHS OF THE WAR, FOR USE AGAINST IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS, OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS, AND THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. AT THE CLOSE OF THE WAR, SAILED FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA TO PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII AND RETURNED TO SAN FRANCISCO ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1945 WITH AIRCRAFT AND PASSENGERS AS PART OF OPERATION ‘MAGIC CARPET’. THIS WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL BY WARSHIPS AND TRANSPORT VESSELS FROM THEATER TO THE U.S.A. HIS SHIP MADE SIMILAR VOYAGES IN 1945-46. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.