World War II Honoree

Hurley Oberlin

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hillsdale, Michigan

Honored By

Nancy Schaller

Relationship

Friend

SERVED ON THE USS WEST VIRGINIA BB-48 AT PEARL HARBOR; SURVIVOR. HE WAS ONE OF THE FEW WHO SERVED ON BOTH THE ORIGINAL USS LEXINGTON, SUNK AT THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA AND THE SECOND USS LEXINGTON, WHICH TOOK PART IN THE CLIMACTIC NAVAL BATTLES LATE IN THE WAR. RECEIVED SEVERAL MEDALS AND AWARDS, INCLUDING MEDALS FROM THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT. FOUGHT IN THE 2 BATTLES FOR THE PHILIPPINE SEA IN JUNE AND OCTOBER 1944. WHILE SERVING IN OKINAWA, HE WAS CITED PERSONALLY ON BOARD THE SHIP BY ADMIRAL WILLIAM HALSEY AFTER HIS CREW SHOT DOWN A KAMIKAZE PLANE. HE SUSTAINED WOUNDS FROM ENEMY PLANES BUT RECOVERED.