World War II Honoree

Harold L. Wilch

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Topeka, Kansas

Honored By

Veryl Wilch

Relationship

Brother

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN APRIL 1944; 6 WEEKS OF BASIC ENGINEERING TRAINING AT THE NAVAL TRAINING BASE NEAR FARRAGUT, IDAHO. SPECIAL BASIC ENGINEERING TRAINING FOR 2 MONTHS NEAR SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. ASSIGNED ON THE USS NEWBERRY APA-158 AT SPOKANE, WASHINGTON (A TROOP AND SUPPLIES CARRYING VESSEL). AT PEARL HARBOR, ASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. FEBRUARY 2, 1945, ARMY PERSONNEL TRANSPORTED BY THE NEWBERRY STORMED THE ISLAND OF IWO JIMA. LASTING ABOUT 4 DAYS, MANY WERE KILLED AND WOUNDED. THE WOUNDED WERE TAKEN TO THE GUAM HOSPITAL. OTHER TROOP AND SUPPLIES ENCOUNTERS INCLUDED ENIWETOK, THE MARIANA ISLANDS, NEW HEBRIDES ISLAND AND VARIOUS OTHER OUTLYING ISLANDS. AFTER AUGUST 14, 1945, OCCUPATIONAL TROOPS AND SUPPLIES WERE TRANSPORTED TO HONSHU, JAPAN. DISCHARGED ON JANUARY 3, 1946 AT NORMAN, OKLAHOMA.