World War II Honoree

William Fred Guise

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Fire Controlman Third Class. Inducted into the United States Navy May 14, 1940 at Chicago, Illinois, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon his graduation from boot camp and gunnery training, he was transferred to the USS Oklahoma Battleship BB-37 for duty as a Fire Controlman, responsible in directing his Battlewagon cannons line of fire, and based at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. 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 came under attack and sustained three torpedo hits, and as she capsized six more torpedoes struck home. Reported missing in action or buried at sea succeeding the attack and the Battle-of-Pearl Harbor took his life. 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.