Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Madison County, Florida
Honored By
William David Wilson, American Legion Post 68
Enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Atlanta, Georgia on 28 October 1943. Assigned to the Minesweeper USS Champion AM-314 on 22 January 1944. Awarded three Battle Stars for the Marshalls Campaign, the Iwo Jima Campaign, and the Okinawa Campaign. The USS Champion performed escort duty for transports to Tarawa, screened a convoy to Kwajalein, performed minesweeping duties of the coast of Saipan. Guarded convoys to Eniwetok and Saipan. Was hit by a kamikaze on 16 April off the coast of Okinawa. Returned to Seattle on 20 July 45 for repairs.