World War II Honoree

Oliver Thomas Champion

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New York City, New York

Honored By

A Thankful American

He was called to military service when WWII began and joined the U.S. Navy in 1943. He went through boot camp training at the Naval Station in Great Lakes, Illinois. He shipped off to Mare Island Naval Yard in Vallejo, California where he built, assembled and repaired naval ships and submarines. He was called for active duty to the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific where he was assigned to the Logistic Support Company with the first African-American Naval Officers. On his way to report for duty, Japan surrendered and the war ended. Following his service at Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands, he returned to the U.S. where he received an honorable discharge as Yeoman 3rd Class, U.S. Navy.