World War II Honoree

William Ike Gurganus

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Long Beach, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Chief Electrician’s Mate. Inducted into the United States Navy May 9, 1934 at Bremerton, Washington, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp and electrical training, he was transferred to the USS Oklahoma Battleship, BB-37 for duty, responsible for maintaining the electrical system also; repairing equipment, and based at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. He re-enlisted May 9, 1939 while on board his battlewagon. On Sunday Morning, December 7, 1941 the Emperor of Japan and his Naval Aviators launched their well-planned attack on the U.S. Fleet at Pearl Harbor and other military installations on Oahu. The Oklahoma along with her shipmates lay moored on Ford Island sustained multiple torpedo hits during the attack, which caused it to capsize. Reported missing in action or buried at sea succeeding the attack. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.