World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Francis M. Gebhart
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Springfield, Illinois
Honored By
Virginia W. Gebhart
WAS A PLANK OWNER OF THE 'SECOND' USS LAFFEY, COMMISSIONED IN 1944. ON THIS SHIP HE WAS IN THE NORMANDY INVASION, THEN TO THE PACIFIC TO AID IN THE CAPTURE OF MINDORO ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE ASSAULT ON IWO JIMA. THEN THE ASSAULT IN OKINAWA, WHERE THEY SUCCESSFULLY REPELLED THE MOST EXTENSIVE JAPANESE KAMIKAZE AIR ATTACK EVER LAUNCHED AGAINST ANY SHIP, FOR WHICH THEY RECEIVED THE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION.