World War II Honoree

Wallace R. Crittenden, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bishop, California

Honored By

Ms. Susan M. Womack

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED FROM DECEMBER 10, 1941 TO FEBRUARY 19, 1946. HE STARTED AT A NAVY BASE ON PIER 1 IN SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA, THEN WAS TRANSFERRED IN 1942 TO A SUBMARINE BASE AT DUTCH HARBOR, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS IN ALASKA, GUARDED AND DISTRIBUTED SUPPLIES. IN 1943, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE SUBMARINE BASE ON ATTU ISLAND AND HELPED BUILD THE ORIGINAL QUONSET HUTS. SERVED ABOARD THE USS LACERTA AKA-29, HAULED TROOPS AND SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC. IN 1945, THE CREW WITNESSED A TRAGIC INCIDENT HAPPENING ON THE ISLAND OF TINIAN. USS LACERTA AKA-29 WAS 10 MILES OFF SHORE OF THE TINIAN ISLAND AND THEY SAW A HUGE FIREBALL AND THEN HEARD EXPLOSIONS AND SAW MORE FIREBALLS AND HEARD EXPLOSIONS. THE NEXT DAY THEY HEARD THAT A LARGE GROUP OF OUR B-29 BOMBERS WERE SITTING ON TINIAN ISLAND LINED UP AND FULLY LOADED WITH FUEL AND BOMBS AND WHEN 1 OF THEM, WHILE TAKING OFF RAN INTO ANOTHER 1, IT SET OFF A CHAIN REACTION OF FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS. PARTICIPATED ABOARD THE USS LACERTA AKA-29 IN THE OKINAWA INVASION ON APRIL 1, 1945, CARRIED A MARINE 155-HOWITZER UNIT FOR DEPOSIT. DECEASED OCTOBER 29, 1999.