Jump to content

WAKE ISLAND US Navy Medal Group - POW Hero


KASTAUFFER
 Share

Recommended Posts

Wake Island was one of the pivotal battles at the beginning of WWII and gave the American public a rallying cry to avenge the Japanese push through the Pacific along with the Pearl Harbor Attack, the attack on Guam, and the defense of the Philippines.

 

This group is to one the Pharmacist Mates who was sent to the Island to help support the Marines and the Naval Air Station. There were only 68 US Navy Personnel on the island as compared to 449 Marines, making a group like this scarce.

 

He was captured when the island fell and was sent to a POW camp in China and was later transferred to Japan. As a POW he preformed gallantly and saved lives and was awarded the Commendation Medal. Based on his Citation, I feel he should have earned a Bronze Star or a LOM, but the Navy was very stingy with decorations during this time period and especially to POWs.

 

He later became an officer and retired from the Navy.

 

His Navy Expeditionary Medal correctly has the silver W, and does not have a Wake Island bar like you see with Marine Expeditionary Medals.

 

I will let the documents tell his story.

 

 

IMG_2084.JPG

 

IMG_2077.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What a tremendous group!-you can't help but admire those brave sailors, Marines, and civilian workers that gave it all in the defense of WI. Though, Devereux denied sending the message "send us more Japs" it sure gave the folks back home something to hope for in those dark days of the war. Thanks for posting in time for the 73rd anniversary.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

I was able to get a new copy of the award cards to him and was able to put together his citation for the Commendation Medal accurately. Here it is:

 

chambliss.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Amazing they wouldn't award a Bronze Star for his actions in the POW camp considering what they will award a Bronze Star for today (i.e., be within 2 time zones of a war zone and have a pulse).

Always like seeing this rare and historic grouping.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

NavComm ribbon may have been prestigious but I have always felt his heroism/conduct as a POW was undervalued by Board of Awards & Decs. . I also believe he rated a LOM. My 2-cents. Nice to see an "old friend." Semper Fi.......Bobgee

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kurt, I am sorry I missed this the first time! A great group. I have several Navy and Marine Corps groups where the man deserved awards and either got nothing or the least medal possible. I have also seen many of your Navy or Marine groups where the man received a minor award or nothing. If any of those men were in the army or AAF they would have medals up the wazoo!

Dick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kurt Barickman

I absolutely love this grouping. What a great piece of Americana from the early days of the war when an Allied victory was not assured. Great early war PTO grouping. Thanks for sharing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great grouping to a real hero! Think of the lives he must've saved and you can bet they never forgot the man who saved them even if he didn't get a significant award for it. Thanks for sharing this great group!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Outstanding group to a Pharmacist Mate. For a medical collector like me, this would be a top shelf pinnacle centerpiece. If you ever sell, please let me know. It would be worth it for me to get rid of other items in my collection, if need be.

 

The Coast Guard(and I think Navy) is still pretty stingy with the higher awards (Achievement Medal and higher).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
ParanormalTrooper

Fantastic grouping, WOW i cannot believe i missed this thread earlier!

 

Thanks for bumping this thread!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 years later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...