World War II Honoree

Thomas E. Gilder

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Vardaman, Mississippi

Honored By

Elizabeth Gilder

Relationship

Wife

RADIOMAN ABOARD USS LST 715. TRANSPORTED CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND TROOPS FROM GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI AND PANAMA CANAL TO HAWAII. TRAINED WITH MARINES IN HAWAII AND LANDED MARINES AS PART OF FIRST WAVE OF INVASION OF IWO JIMA AND RE SUPPLY FROM SAIPAN TO IWO JIMA. TRANSPORTED MATERIAL AND TROOPS TO RE SUPPLY FORCES ON OKINAWA. TRANSPORTED FROM HAWAII AND PHILIPPINES TO JAPAN FOR OCCUPATION FORCES. MOTHER SHIP FOR MINESWEEPERS, CLEARING MINE FIELDS AROUND THE PHILIPPINES AFTER JAPANESE SURRENDER.