World War II Honoree

Arthur Gerald Herriford, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cleveland, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1940, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT SAN DIEGO NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA; AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS; ALEUTIAN ISLANDS OFF ALASKA; CHINA; IN THE SOUTH AND CENTRAL PACIFIC AREAS; AND IN JAPANESE WATERS. HE WAS PRESENT AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED WITHOUT WARNING AND CATAPULTED THE UNITED STATES INTO THE WAR. HE IS A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR. SERVED AS THE MAIN BATTERY RANGE FINDER OPERATOR AND CONTROLMAN ABOARD SHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR SPOTTING AND CONTROLLING GUNFIRE, AND ALSO AS A FIRE CONTROLMAN INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TECHNICAL FIRE CONTROL EQUIPMENT. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. CHIEF FIRE CONTROLMAN HERRIFORD CONTINUED IN U.S. NAVY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED. ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.