World War II Honoree

Delmar Dean Wiley

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Glenwood, Nebraska

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

He joined the US Navy and served as a naval aviator. While serving on the USS Yorktown (CV-5) he saw action during the battle of the Coral Sea and the battle at Midway at which time the Yorktown was sunk. On August 24, 1942, while flying from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the battle of the Eastern Solomon's, his Torpedo Bomber was shot down by enemy fighters. He, the sole survivor of the "splash down," spent 15 days adrift in a rubber raft before landing on the very small Cateret Islands. He was nursed back to health from his wounds and cared for by the local islanders until April 1943 when he was able to make contact with friendly Coast Watchers who arranged for his return to allied forces. Awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart.