World War II Honoree

Richard F. Bacon

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Abilene, Texas

Honored By

Betty Bacon

Relationship

Wife

YEOMAN 3RD CLASS. INDUCTED INTO U.S. NAVY IN DALLAS, TEXAS ON JANUARY 18, 1945; SENT TO BOOT CAMP IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. VOLUNTEERED FOR NAVY SEABEES AND SENT TO CAMP PARKS, CALIFORNIA AND ASSIGNED TO NEWLY ACTIVATED CONSTRUCTION BATTALION MAINTENANCE UNIT 631. TRANSFERRED WITH UNIT TO PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA IN MAY 1945 AND SUBSEQUENTLY SAILED FOR OKINAWA ON THE USS NOBLE APA-218. HELPED BUILD AND MAINTAIN OKINAWA AIR STRIPS, ROADS, BRIDGES AND BUILDINGS IN TYPHOON CONDITIONS AND WHILE UNDER ATTACK BY JAPANESE SNIPERS. REASSIGNED TO CONSTRUCTION BATTALION MAINTENANCE UNIT 633 AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE 48TH NAVAL CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT. RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING ASSIGNMENT ORDERS AND FOR DELIVERY OF MAIL FOR ALL NAVAL UNITS ON OKINAWA. UNIT WAS PREPARING FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN WHEN THE JAPANESE FORMALLY SURRENDERED. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE WWII VICTORY RIBBON AND THE NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ASIA CLASP.