World War II Honoree

William Purdy Wygant, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Ventura, California

Honored By

Paul J. Cassavechia

Relationship

Friend

HE WAS A NAVAL AVIATOR WHO FLEW COMBAT B-34 BOMBER MISSIONS IN THE RAT ISLANDS GROUP TO INCLUDE KISKA IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN AS PART OF THE AVIATOR ELEMENT OF AMPHIBIOUS TASK FORCE 9, WHICH INCLUDED ELEMENTS OF THE 7TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 4TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, AND 87TH MOUNTAIN INFANTRY REGIMENT OF OVER 34,000 TROOPS ALONG WITH TWO BATTLESHIPS AND NUMEROUS DESTROYERS AND SUPPORT VESSELS. HE ALSO FLEW BOMBING MISSIONS IN THE BATTLES OF IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF WAR. HE WAS DECORATED FOR HEROISM BY ADMIRAL FLETCHER, COMMANDER OF THE U.S. NAVY NORTH PACIFIC FLEET.