World War II Honoree

William Kenneth Forbes

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Duncan, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Radioman Third Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy October 5, 1940 at Denver, Colorado, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Radio Schooling, he was transferred to the USS Neosho Tanker, AO-23 for duty as a Radio Technician, and his shipmates participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea against the Imperial Japanese Naval Aviators (Battle Dates: May 4-8, 1942) in the South Pacific Theater of Operations. On the Eighth, at 11:00 hours the Tanker/Oiler came under attack, and was sunk after sustaining multiple bomb strikes. Reported missing in action on the day of the attack. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley in Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.