World War II Honoree

David A. 'Buster' Cullison, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

No Relationship

SERVED OVERSEAS ABOARD THE ATTACK TRANSPORT SHIP USS CATRON (APA-71) IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. HIS SHIP SAILED OUT OF SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA ON JANUARY 18, 1945, BOUND FOR TRAINING IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AND FLORIDA ISLAND GROUP, IN THE SOUTH WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. SHE ARRIVED AT PURVIS BAY, IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, ON FEBRUARY 5, 1945. ON MARCH 21, 1945, REPORTED AT ULITHI ATOLL, IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS, TO COMBAT LOAD FOR THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA, IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS, IN THE NORTH WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. SHE ARRIVED OFF OKINAWA FOR THE INITIAL ASSAULT ON APRIL 1, 1945. THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK, THE ATTACK TRANSPORT REMAINED OFF THE ISLAND, LANDING CARGO TO SUPPORT THE MARINES IN THEIR ASSAULT. THE TRANSPORT LEFT OKINAWA ON APRIL 7, 1945, AND SAILED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TO LOAD CARGO, WHICH SHE DELIVERED TO GUAM, IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, ON JUNE 13, 1945. THERE, SHE EMBARKED 297 JAPANESE PRISONERS OF WAR AND DELIVERED THEM TO SAN FRANCISCO ON JULY 5, 1945. SHE SAILED WITH CARGO FOR OKINAWA, WHERE SHE SERVED FROM AUGUST 12-24, 1945. HIS SHIP WAS PORTED THERE ON AUGUST 14, 1945, WHEN THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE ALLIED UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS. THE SHIP’S NEXT VOYAGE WAS TO THE PHILIPPINES, WHERE SHE EMBARKED OCCUPATION TROOPS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO JAPAN, ARRIVING SEPTEMBER 25, 1945. HERE, HIS ‘FREEDOM’ VESSEL TOOK ABOARD 552 FORMER ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR THAT SHE CARRIED HOME TO SAN FRANCISCO, ARRIVING ON OCTOBER 19, 1945. USS CATRON MADE TWO MORE VOYAGES FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO CARRY TROOPS TO THE PHILIPPINES BETWEEN OCTOBER 29, 1945 - FEBRUARY 12, 1946. THE SHIP THEN REPORTED AT PEARL HARBOR TO BE STRIPPED IN PREPARATION FOR OPERATION ‘CROSSROADS’, THE ATOMIC TESTS AT BIKINI ATOLL, IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. SHE WAS DECOMMISSIONED AUGUST 29, 1946, AND REMAINED IN THE PACIFIC FOR RADIOLOGICAL AND STRUCTURAL STUDY. HE WAS AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE SERVICE STAR (OKINAWA-GUNTO OPERATION), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘ASIA’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.