World War II Honoree

Murray Nunn

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oma, Arkansas

Honored By

Family

Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy. Enlisted 16 February 1940. After basic training, he was a member of the commissioning crew and muster roll on the USS WASP CV-7 aircraft carrier, 25 April 1940. He participated in Mediterranean operations in April-May 1942, during which the USS WASP provided carrier support to British Royal Air Force Spitfires. The USS WASP returned from Malta to Norfolk, Virginia Naval shipyards for repairs and retrofit, then ordered to the Pacific theater of operations immediately. On 7 August 1942, the USS WASP carrying Grumman Avengers, F4F Wildcats and Douglas SBDs hit several Japanese positions throughout the Guadalcanal islands as well as taking out 24 enemy aircraft. On 15 September 1942 the USS WASP, along with the USS Hornet, were on escort duty ensuring safe landing of the 7th Marines on Guadalcanal. The USS WASP was struck by several torpedoes fired from Japanese submarine I-19 near the magazine causing massive explosions from ammunition and gasoline. The fires could not be contained and the USS WASP CV-7 sank in the waters off Guadalcanal. He survived and was rescued by the destroyer USS Laffey DD-459. On 17 February 1943, he was a member of the commissioning crew and muster roll on the USS LEXINGTON CV-16 'The Blue Ghost'. As a member of the crew from its commission in February, 1943 through the end of WWII, he participated in the Tarawa and Gilbert Islands Operations, Kwajalein Raid, Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. He was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and remained in service to the U.S. Navy after WWII.