World War II Honoree

Gale A. Whitaker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Blackburn, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN JANUARY, 1945, IN THE CLOSING MONTHS OF HOSTILITIES. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT SAN DIEGO NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA FOR 'BOOT CAMP' TRAINING; THE NAVAL ADVANCE BASE PERSONNEL DEPOT AT SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA; THE NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOLS AT POINT LOMA, CALIFORNIA, AND SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; AND AT SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN JULY, 1946 WITH THE RATING OF SEAMAN FIRST CLASS, STRIKING RADARMAN, AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE U.S. NAVY AFTER THE WAR AND SERVED UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED.