This information is contributed by Bill Barnhill
Willie James Barnhill Son of: Willie Don and Ella Lee Wallace Barnhill Residence: Atkinson, Pender Co., NC Military Service: Accepted for enlistment at Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC Enlisted in service in Raleigh, NC for a period of four years 9/9/1941 US Navy Service # 656 06 59 Entered the service at Norfolk Naval Center, Norfolk, Virginia 9/9/1941 Served on Battleship, USS North Carolina - The "Showboat" Discharged honorably 10/19/1942 to enlist in regular Navy for 6 years Promoted to Seaman 1st Class 10/01/1942 Promoted to COX, 3/1/1944 Promoted to BM2C(T), 9/1/1945 Discharged 10/19/1948 Washington, DC (Net Service 7 yrs, 1 mo., 11 days) Reenlisted 10/20/1948 for four years Enlistment involuntarily extended for a period of (9) mos. to expire on Jul 19, 1953 Honorably discharged Jul 19, 1953 with 11 years, 10 months, 11 days of service (Home address at time of discharge: 1541 York Ave, New York, NY) Medals/Ribbons Awarded Good Conduct Medal (Navy w/1 Bronze Star) 9/8/1944 World War II Victory Medal 11/7/1947 American Defense Service Medal 8/18/1948 American Campaign Medal 8/18/1948 Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/Silver Stars 8/18/1948 Honorable Service Lapel Pin (Ruptured Duck) 9/8/1947 Philippine Ribbon (Liberation w/1 Bronze Star) Presidential Unit Citation (Philippine) He was in Tokyo Bay aboard the "USS North Carolina" for the surrender of the Japanese.
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