World War II Honoree

Dale Merriett Gordon

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1936, LONG BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT SAN DIEGO NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA; THE UNITED STATES NAVY PRE-FLIGHT SCHOOL AT ATHENS, GEORGIA; AND PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR STATION, FLORIDA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN EUROPE, AND IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING AT IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS; AND OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. THEN SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES IN JAPAN AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH GOLD STAR (2 AWARDS), COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘ASIA’ CLASP. LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE GORDON CONTINUED IN U.S. NAVY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.