Lawrence Arnold Riddle

BRANCH OF SERVICE
U.S. Navy

HOMETOWN
Paoli, IN

HONORED BY
Grateful American





ACTIVITY DURING WWII


SERVED ON THE USS DEWEY (DD-349) A FARRAGUT CLASS DESTROYER. 7 DECEMBER 1941 WAS AT PEARL HARBOR UNDERGOING TENDER OVERHAUL. GOT UNDERWAY IN THE AFTERNOON TO PATROL HAWAIIAN AREA. 15 DECEMBER 1941 SAILED WITH TASK FORCE 11 TO RELIEVE THE GARRISON ON WAKE ISLAND. FEBRUARY, 1942 TASK FORCE 11 PROJECTED STRIKE AT RABAUL AND RAN SCREEN FOR THE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS AT LAE AND SALAMAUA, NEW GUINEA. 15 APRIL 1942 OPERATED OFF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AND THE BATTLE OF CORAL SEA ALSO SCREENED FOR CARRIERS AT NOUMEA. JUNE, 1942 AT BATTLE OF MIDWAY. JULY COVERED THE LANDING AT GUADALCANAL. AUGUST, 1942 AT BATTLE FOR EASTERN SOLOMON ISLANDS THEN SET SAIL FOR SAN FRANCISCO FOR OVERHAUL AND UPDATE. DECEMBER, 1942 ON PATROL OF THE ALASKAN WATERS. 27 MARCH 1943 REPORTED ABOARD THE USS GENERAL T.H. BLISS (AP-131) ATTACK TRANSPORT AND SAILED FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW CALEDONIA AND BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO. 1 MAY 1944 SAILED FOR ESPIRITU SANTO AND ORA BAY, NEW GUINEA. RATING OF MACHINIST'S MATE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER.