World War II Honoree

Wanata Troxel Ashcraft

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Weleetka, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

MOVED TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO WORK FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION DURING THE WAR. IN 1942, SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TO MEET HER FIANCE WHEN SHE READ IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT HE HAD BEEN KILLED WHILE SERVING IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ON GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. SHE PROMPTLY ENLISTED AS A MEMBER OF THE WOMEN ACCEPTED FOR VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICE (WAVES), THE WOMEN’S RESERVE OF THE U.S. NAVY. ATTENDED WAVES SCHOOL AT OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL (A&M) COLLEGE IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA, AND THEN WAS REASSIGNED TO THE CRYPTOGRAPHY DIVISION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SHE WAS TRAINED IN THE FIELD OF CRYPTOGRAPHY TO WRITE AND DECIPHER MESSAGES IN CODE. SERVED DURING THE WAR IN THE AMERICAN THEATER HELPING TO BREAK TOP SECRET JAPANESE CODES. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. SHE ALSO RECEIVED A COMMENDATION FOR HER PART IN DECIPHERING CODED JAPANESE MESSAGES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.