World War II Honoree

Wilburn Franklin Chapman

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Mannford, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. MACHINIST'S MATE THIRD CLASS CHAPMAN WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON AUGUST 10, 1945 DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS, ON THE DAY FOLLOWING THE DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB ON NAGASAKI, JAPAN, AND IN THE FINAL DAYS BEFORE THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS ON AUGUST 14, 1945. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES.