World War II Honoree

Richard O. Battles

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

McAlester, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE SHORTLY BEFORE HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS PENNSYLVANIA (BB-38). PARTICIPATED IN NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS OFF ALASKA, AND AT MAKIN ATOLL IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS IN 1943; AT KWAJALEIN AND ENIWETOK ATOLLS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, IN THE FLORIDA ISLANDS IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS AT SAIPAN, TINIAN AND GUAM, AT PELELIU IN THE PALAU ISLANDS, AND AT LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS INCLUDING AT THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF AND THE BATTLE OF SURIGAO STRAIT, IN 1944; AT LINGAYEN GULF ON LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AT WAKE ISLAND IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PACIFIC AREA, AND AT OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS, IN 1945. HIS SHIP WAS HIT BY A TORPEDO FROM A JAPANESE TORPEDO PLANE IN BUCKNER BAY, OKINAWA ON AUGUST 12, 1945, TWO DAYS BEFORE THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS AFTER THE ATOMIC BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON JAPAN. THE BATTLESHIP SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WITH 20 OF HIS SHIPMATES KILLED IN ACTION AND 10 WOUNDED. AFTER TEMPORARY REPAIRS AT GUAM, HIS SHIP RETURNED TO THE PUGET SOUND NAVY YARD IN BREMERTON, WASHINGTON. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘ASIA’ CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION FOR OUTSTANDING HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS SHIP FROM MAY 4, 1943 TO FEBRUARY 10, 1945. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.