Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE-62)

Осtоber 1943 - May 1946

Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023

1. U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE-62) Marker

Inscription.

U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE-62). Осtоber 1943 - May 1946. The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting, The Presidential Unit Citation to the United States Ship Natoma Bay and Her Attached Squadrons, Participating in the following operations: VC 63, Marshall Island Operation, January 29 to March 8, 1944 VC 63, Western New Guinea Operations, April 22 to May 5, 1944 VC 81, Leyte Operation, October 17 to 30, 1944 VC 81, Luzon Operation, December 13 to 17, 1944 VC 81, Luzon Operation, January 4 to 18, 1945 VC 81, Iwo Jima Operation, February 16 to March 8, 1945 VC 9, Okinawa Gunto Operation, March 25 to June 24, 1945, Shipmates in Our Hearts Forever Ship's Company LTJG. Loraine A. Sandberg, Composite Squadrons VC-63 ENS. Ruben I. Goranson Eldon R. Bailey, AOM3C Edward B. Barren, ARM2C LTJG. Edmund R. Lange, VC-9 William P. Bird, ARM1C Clarence E. Davis, AOM1C LTJG. Peter H. Hazard ENS. Richard E. Quack ENS. Robert W. Washburg, VC-81 Donald E. Bullis, ARM3C LTJG. Leon S. Conner ENS. Walter J. Devlin Louis K. Hill, AMM2C LT. Adrian C. Hunter LTJG. James M. Huston, Jr. George H. Neese, AMM3C LTJG. John F. Sargent, Jr. Edward J. Schrambeck, ARM3C ENS. Billy R. Peeler LTJG. Lloyd S. Holton, For service as set forth in the following: Citation: "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, ashore, and afloat. Striking aggressively at her targets in the face of frequent and sustained hostile air attacks, the USS Natoma Bay caused extremely heavy losses to the enemy in warships, aircraft, merchant shipping, shore installations destroyed or severely damaged. As a Flagship of Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy Two) in the historic Battle for Leyte Gulf, the Natoma Bay fought her guns gallantly against the enemy dive bombers and suicide planes, at the same time, sending out her own aircraft to strafe and bomb Japanese Fleet units. During the Mindoro assault, she aided in covering the invasion successfully despite active hostile airfields surrounding the Sulu Sea. Although crashed by a Japanese Kamikaze while participating in a heavy assault on Miayko Jima on June 7, 1945, she sent out 55 sorties from her damaged flight deck. Her illustrious record of achievement, made possible by her own combat readiness and the courageous fighting spirit of her officers and men, reflects the highest credit upon the Natoma Bay and the United States Naval Service." For the President, John L. Sullivan Secretary of the Navy, "The solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom" Abraham Lincoln .

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting

The Presidential Unit Citation to the
United States Ship Natoma Bay and Her Attached Squadrons

Participating in the following operations:
VC 63, Marshall Island Operation, January 29 to March 8, 1944
VC 63, Western New Guinea Operations, April 22 to May 5, 1944
VC 81, Leyte Operation, October 17 to 30, 1944
VC 81, Luzon Operation, December 13 to 17, 1944
VC 81, Luzon Operation, January 4 to 18, 1945
VC 81, Iwo Jima Operation, February 16 to March 8, 1945
VC 9, Okinawa Gunto Operation, March 25 to June 24, 1945

Shipmates in Our Hearts Forever
Ship's Company
LTJG. Loraine A. Sandberg

Composite Squadrons
VC-63
ENS. Ruben I. Goranson
Eldon R. Bailey, AOM3C
Edward B. Barren, ARM2C
LTJG. Edmund R. Lange

VC-9
William P. Bird, ARM1C
Clarence E. Davis, AOM1C
LTJG. Peter H. Hazard
ENS. Richard E. Quack
ENS. Robert W. Washburg

VC-81
Donald E. Bullis, ARM3C
LTJG. Leon S. Conner
ENS. Walter J. Devlin
Louis K. Hill, AMM2C
LT. Adrian C. Hunter
LTJG. James M. Huston, Jr.
George H. Neese, AMM3C
LTJG. John F. Sargent, Jr.
Edward J. Schrambeck, ARM3C
ENS.

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Billy R. Peeler
LTJG. Lloyd S. Holton

For service as set forth in the following:
Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, ashore, and afloat. Striking aggressively at her targets in the face of frequent and sustained hostile air attacks, the USS Natoma Bay caused extremely heavy losses to the enemy in warships, aircraft, merchant shipping, shore installations destroyed or severely damaged. As a Flagship of Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy Two) in the historic Battle for Leyte Gulf, the Natoma Bay fought her guns gallantly against the enemy dive bombers and suicide planes, at the same time, sending out her own aircraft to strafe and bomb Japanese Fleet units. During the Mindoro assault, she aided in covering the invasion successfully despite active hostile airfields surrounding the Sulu Sea. Although crashed by a Japanese Kamikaze while participating in a heavy assault on Miayko Jima on June 7, 1945, she sent out 55 sorties from her damaged flight deck. Her illustrious record of achievement, made possible by her own combat readiness and the courageous fighting spirit of her officers and men, reflects the highest credit upon the Natoma Bay and the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
John L. Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy

"The solemn
Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023

2. The U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE-62) Marker is the second large marker on the right side
pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom"
Abraham Lincoln

Erected by Natoma Bay Association.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is June 7, 1945.

Location. 30° 16.347′ N, 98° 52.031′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Memorial is at the intersection of East Main Street and North Washington Street on East Main Street. The marker is located in the central section of the WWII Veterans Memorial Courtyard which is a part of the National Museum of the Pacific War. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 340 E Main St, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S.S. Bisbee (PF46) (here, next to this marker); The U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) (here, next to this marker); "Lefty's Wolfpack" (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Mattaponi (AO-41) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Trenton (CL-11) (here, next to this marker); In Memory of Our Fallen Comrades (here, next to this marker); The Shinyo Maru (here, next to this marker); Americal Division (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Also see . . . USS Natoma Bay

U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE-62) image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Navy - Naval History and Heritage Command, April 8, 1944

3. U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE-62)

The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Natoma Bay (CVE-62) taking aboard stores in Tulagi harbour, Solomon Islands.

. Wikipedia

USS Natoma Bay (CVE–62) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy that served in the Pacific War during World War II. The carrier entered service in 1943 and participated in a series of operations in the South Pacific including the Philippines campaign, the Battle off Samar and the Battle of Okinawa. During the Okinawa battle, Natoma Bay was struck by a Japanese aircraft and heavily damaged, ending the ship's participation in the war. Once repaired, Natoma Bay was assigned to Operation Magic Carpet, the return of American soldiers from the Pacific theatre. Following the completion of the operation the escort carrier was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve. In 1959, Natoma Bay was sold for scrap.

(Submitted on February 15, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 69 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 15, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.