VETERAN OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES

VANCE T. MURDOCK

Navy   Rank, Seaman First Class

Air Force Reserve 10 years, Baer Field, Sgt

1942 – 1945      Combat

American Theater E.A.M.

Military Honors and Awards:

Asiatic-Pacific, 2 Bronze Stars

Okinawa Campaign, 3 Bronze Stars

I entered the Navy as a seventeen-year old.   Between 1941 and 1945 I served in the South Pacific Theater during World War II as a Seaman First Class.   I was a gunner on a boat and took soldiers to shore on LCI Landing Crafts.   I had four years active duty in the military and served in Okinawa.   It was my duty to shoot down Japanese airplanes.   A dog was assigned to me on ship and I trained it to protect the men on board.   I slept and ate with the dog.   There was nothing to protect the men when they were taken to shore so the dog became very useful.

During my time in the service I was awarded two Bronze Stars for Asiatic-Pacific and three Bronze Stars for the Okinawa Campaign.   I also received a medal for saving a man’s life.

My family were all military people and we were all very proud to serve our country.   In fact I joined the Air Force Reserves for ten years after World War II.   I was an Air Force Sergeant at Baer Field and traveled with the radar systems.