World War II Honoree

Charles Wayne 'Chuck' Hetrick, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Blackwell, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

WITHDREW FROM COLLEGE AT OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL COLLEGE (OAMC) IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA, TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS, AFTER THE JAPANESE SURPRIZE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, TERRITORY OF HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. INITIALLY TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AND THEN DEPLOYED TO THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AND WAS STATIONED IN THE SAMOAN ISLANDS. SAMOA IS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN, SOME DISTANCE NORTHEAST OF AUSTRALIA. HE SERVED SOME 2 1/2 YEARS IN THEATER AND THEN RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1944. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN JANUARY, 1946, AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.