World War II Honoree

Warren William Davenport

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Manhattan, Kansas

Honored By

Randall & Monica Davenport Rose

Relationship

Son-in-law & Daughter

SERVED AS A GUNNER'S MATE 3RD CLASS. SERVED FROM DECEMBER 26, 1942 TO APRIL 26, 1946. HIS BOOT TRAINING WAS AT THE GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING BASE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. HE VOLUNTEERED FOR SEA DUTY (BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIKE THE AVIATION RADIO SCHOOL HE WAS ATTENDING AT MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE). HE WAS ORDERED TO THE ARMED GUARD IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THE USS EDWARD BURLESON. HIS JOB WAS TO PUT NAVAL ORDNANCE EQUIPMENT ON THIS PRIVATELY OWNED MERCHANT SHIP. HE SERVED A GUNNER'S MATE AS HIS SHIP SAILED THE NORTH SEA TAKING CARGO TO LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND. HE ALSO SERVED IN THE PORT OF ORAN, ALGIERS, NORTH AFRICA AND NAPLES, ITALY IN THIS SAME CAPACITY. HE TOOK THE USS MONITOR ON ITS SHAKEDOWN CRUISE OUT OF MISSISSIPPI AND DELIVERED IT TO NEW YORK. AFTER THE ALLIES DEFEATED GERMANY, HE WENT TO MARSEILLES, FRANCE AND PICKED UP THE 7TH ARMY SIGNAL CORPS EQUIPMENT TO BE DELIVERED TO CEBU, PHILIPPINES. THERE HE EXCHANGED THE CARGO FOR 2500 JAPANESE WAR PRISONERS AND DELIVERED THEM TO LEYTE BAY, PHILIPPINES. ONCE THE ATOMIC BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON JAPAN, HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. BY WAY OF THE PANAMA CANAL TO NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. THERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO TAKE A SHIP OF CARGO TO HULL, ENGLAND AND THEN RETURN IT TO THE MOTHBALL FLEET IN NEW JERSEY. WITH THIS SHIP RETIRED, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO BE IN CHARGE OF 88 NAVY PERSONNEL (MOST FROM THE USS BOXER) TO DELIVER THEM TO SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI FOR DISCHARGE. HE, TOO, WAS DISCHARGED FROM SAINT LOUIS ONCE THIS TASK WAS COMPLETED.