Heard Saturday at 1 p.m. on KMJ 580
June 19, 2010: Bill Gilbert of Kingsburg, CA. US Navy signalman aboard USS
Martin (DE-30) and USS Banner (APA-60).
Martin (DE-30) and USS Banner (APA-60).
Click play to listen
Visit the HOMETOWN HEROES
FACEBOOK PAGE for more photos
of Bill and his service. At right, Bill
points to the signal bridge on the
USS Martin, where he spent a lot of
his time aboard that destroyer.
FACEBOOK PAGE for more photos
of Bill and his service. At right, Bill
points to the signal bridge on the
USS Martin, where he spent a lot of
his time aboard that destroyer.
Bill Gilbert was a 19-year-old from New Jersey when he joined the U.S. Navy in
November of 1942. He spent the next three years as a signalman in the Pacific, first
aboard the destroyer USS Martin (DE-30), later on the USS Banner (APA-60).
LISTEN to this edition of Hometown Heroes to hear Bill relate the unique duty he
performed before ever heading overseas. If you know what was happening beneath
Chicago's Soldier Field during World War II, you'll have a pretty good idea. Among
the 13 battles he was present for, Bill witnessed the carnage of the Battle of Tarawa
from the Martin, and was involved in landing troops at the crucial clash for Leyte in
the Philippines.
November of 1942. He spent the next three years as a signalman in the Pacific, first
aboard the destroyer USS Martin (DE-30), later on the USS Banner (APA-60).
LISTEN to this edition of Hometown Heroes to hear Bill relate the unique duty he
performed before ever heading overseas. If you know what was happening beneath
Chicago's Soldier Field during World War II, you'll have a pretty good idea. Among
the 13 battles he was present for, Bill witnessed the carnage of the Battle of Tarawa
from the Martin, and was involved in landing troops at the crucial clash for Leyte in
the Philippines.