World War II Honoree

Elroy Francis Hentges

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Honored By

Kathleen Hentges

Relationship

Daughter

Enlisted in the Navy on December 12, 1942 and was sent to boot camp at Naval Station Great lakes. He was then assigned to the battleship USS Washington, BB-56. He was a gunner, his crew manning turret gun #3 of the 9 16 inch guns. The ship was deployed to Britain to reinforce the Home Fleet with the task of protecting supplies intended for the Soviet Union. The Washington was refitted for work in the Pacific Campaign. He participated in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, campaigns of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Mariana and Palau Islands, Leyte, Luzon, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Dad separated honorably from the Navy on September 19, 1945 with the rank of S1, Seaman First Class.