World War II Honoree

Edward Aubrey Helton

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Peterman, Alabama

Honored By

COL and Mrs Smith

Relationship

Father's best friend

SERVED ON THE USS ENTERPRISE FROM APRIL 4, 1942 UNTIL JULY 25, 1945. SPENT 30 DAYS IN BOOT CAMP GETTING SHOTS, CLOTHES, AND PROCESSED. HE WAS PRESENT FOR THE DOOLITTLE RAID LAUNCH. HIS MOST VIVID MEMORY IS THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. THE CREW WORKED FOR FOUR HOURS ON AND FOUR HOURS OFF. THE BIG E HAD TO BREAK OFF FROM THE BATTLE BECAUSE THE DESTROYERS NEEDED TO REFUEL. TOWARD THE END OF THE WAR, THE ENTERPRISE HAD AN ELEVATOR KNOCKED OUT BY A KAMIKAZE. THEY WERE SENT TO BREMERTON, WASHINGTON FOR REPAIRS WHERE HE PUT IN FOR A TRANSFER. AUBREY HAD NOTHING TO PROVE. HE WAS NOT LOOKING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AND HE HAD NO EGO TO FEED. JUST A HUMBLE MAN WHO DID HIS DUTY TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY AND THANKFUL THAT HE MADE IT THROUGH AND COULD GO HOME. A TRUE PATRIOT AND MY FATHER'S BEST FRIEND.