World War II Honoree

Oliver Luther Austin, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tuckahoe, New York

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

In July 1942, at the age of 39, he attended the Naval communications school for three months and was assigned to the USS Tyron, an evacuation transport, or armed hospital ship. It was headed for an embattled contingent of Marines in New Caledonia. Deck service was followed by duty in Admiral Bull Halsey’s communication pool and as communications officer on a gas tanker to forward bases. After two years in the Navy, he was transferred to military government school at Princeton University to prepare for service in the future occupations of Japan and Korea. He was honored as one of only two members of the U.S. Occupation of Japan who received a personal commendation for meritorious civilian service by General Douglas MacArthur.