World War II Honoree

Leon B. Cranford

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Blackwell, Oklahoma

Honored By

Scott Cranford

Relationship

Son

Joined U.S. Navy as Seaman Recruit February 1942 at Hutchinson, Kansas. Trained at Great Lakes. Assigned to U.S. Navy Armed Guard aboard SS Commercial Trader which was sunk by German U-Boat in Caribbean on return trip from Rio de Janeiro. Survivors managed to get to the Island of Tobago. Made invasion of North Africa, Operation Torch, November 8, 1942 while on SS American Robin. Also served on SS Thomas Cresap, SS Robert M.T. Hunter, SS Stephen Mallory in the Atlantic carrying supplies for invasion of Italy to the people of Malta and to Corsica. In April 1945 while on SS Richard B. Moore made invasion of Okinawa. Experienced many enemy U-boat, aircraft and kamikaze attacks during these actions. We were preparing to make the invasion of Japan when the war ended. Remained in the Navy for 26 years and retired as Lieutenant June 1967.