World War II Honoree

Don F. Dunham

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Columbus, Ohio

Honored By

Deborah J. Dunham

Relationship

Niece

STATIONED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE USS LEXINGTON, A.K.A. THE “BLUE GHOST”. THE JAPANESE REPORTED FOUR TIMES THAT THE LEXINGTON HAD BEEN SUNK, TOKYO ROSE NICKNAMED IT THE “BLUE GHOST” BECAUSE IT KEPT COMING BACK. HE WAS A PILOT, FLYING A CURTIS SBC HELLDIVER. HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR, THE AIR MEDAL WITH 3 GOLD STARS, THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH BRONZE STAR, THE AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS, AND THE WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL. A COLLEGE STUDENT AT THE TIME OF HIS ENLISTMENT, HE RETURNED TO THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AFTER THE WAR TO COMPLETE HIS DEGREE.