World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial

Donald Lee Beck was inducted into the U. S. Navy at Great Lakes, Illinois in 1943.

Thomas Beynon was born October 11, 1925 in Springfield, Illinois, the son of Thomas and Florence Hahon Beynon. After graduating from Divernon High School, Tom joined the United States Navy in World War II. He served as a motor machinist second class aboard the USS Quapaw, ATF 110 and aboard the USS PCS 1403. […]

William G. Bird served in World War II in the United States Navy. He was 20 years old when he entered the service and served two and a half years.

I was 34 years old when entering the WAVES and served for 32 months from December 1942 until September 1945. I had boot training at Cedar Falls, Iowa and six months of training at Norman, Oklahoma. I spent two years in the Flight Operation Office at Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri.
I […]

Lee Francis Burtch was born in Springfield, Illinois on October 19, 1920 the son of Lee and Marie Burtch. He was attending the University of Illinois at Champaign when WW II broke out, Lee enlisted in the United States Navy in July 1942. While home on leave, he married Loraine Cruse on Christmas Day, 1942. […]

I had been in the U.S. Navy two years before World War II began and was stationed aboard the battleship U.S.S. Tennessee. On the morning of December 7, 1941 I arose early and went topside. No one else was around and I stood looking over the harbor. Suddenly there was a group of planes flying along side battleship row.

He achieved the rank of Radioman 1st Class and served for 5 years.

Iva Lee Symes was born in Wright City, Missouri on November 3, 1923 and enlisted in the United States Navy WAVES at Ferguson, Missouri on August 4, 1944. Her training began in September, 1944 at the U. S. Training School in the Bronx, New York City, New York, formerly Hunter College.

During his period of service, Eldon served as a beach master. The primary location was on the mainland of China. During this period , Eldon’s unit received orders to invade Japan. These orders were cancelled, however, after the bombing and surrender of Japan.

He was sent to Great Lakes Naval Station in Missouri and then transferred to Norfolk, Virginia. There, he was assigned to the Army Transport, USS Harris, and sent to the Panama Canal Zone where he served 22 months at FARFAN Radio Station.