World War II Honoree

Larry Bruce Ransom

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Wichita, Kansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy July 17, 1942 at Shawnee, Kansas, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. After completing boot camp, and aircraft mechanics training, he was transferred to the USS Gambier Bay Escort Aircraft Carrier for duty as an Aircraft Mechanic, assigned to the Aircraft Composite Squadron –Ten. The seagoing airbase and her shipmates set sail for Pearl Harbor, May 1, 1944 for training in the Hawaiian waters. He died in an aircraft flight training accident Thursday, May 14, 1944, and buried in the Oahu Nuuanu Cemetery, Territory of Hawaii. The family of this Seaman received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest with Military Honors, November 14, 1947 at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.