World War II Honoree

Ronald Earl Bales

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Albert Lea, Minnesota

Honored By

M. Carol Darnell & Richard Gaboury

Relationship

Relatives

INDUCTED INTO THE NAVAL RESERVE; JUNE 20, 1944 AND AS A SEAMAN 1ST CLASS, ATTENDED NAVY BASIC TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN; JULY 5, 1944 AND ATTAINED THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE BY JANUARY 1, 1946. TRANSFERRED TO PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII AND TRAINED AT CAMP CATLIN IN RADAR OPERATIONS AND RECEIVED ANTI-AIRCRAFT TRAINING AT PEARL HARBOR. SENT TO THE PACIFIC AT ULITHI ISLAND ABOARD LCT 173 AND PARTICIPATED IN THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION ASSAULT ABOARD HIS SHIP LCT 773 AT PELELIU ISLAND IN THE PALAUS; SEPTEMBER 25, 1944. ABOARD LSM 174, AS ENGINEERING OFFICER AND ONE OF 5 OFFICERS, HIS LANDING CRAFT TANK ARRIVED D+9 ON OKINAWA AND SUPPLIED OUR FORCES UNTIL JUNE 30, 1945. HONORABLY SEPARATED AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, OFFICER SEPARATION CENTER; APRIL 28, 1946. AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. U.S. NAVAL RESERVE SERIAL NUMBER 399361.