WW II Veteran Finally Receives Just Honors

October 14, 2009
By Blair Martin
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Commander, Navy Region Hawaii
Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) - World War II veteran Willie “Delbert” Kilgore, who retired from the Navy as a chief storekeeper, enjoyed a day of sightseeing and fanfare from visitors at USS Arizona Memorial while celebrating his 90th birthday during a Sept. 14 tour of Pearl Harbor and Ford Island.

Kilgore received a guided tour from Capt. Melvin Lee, chief of staff for Commander Navy Region Hawaii. He also participated in a special flag raising ceremony at USS Arizona Memorial, where he laid a wreath inside the memorial’s shrine room.

“I am completely honored I get an opportunity to do this,” said Lee before the tour. “The Pearl Harbor survivors and [WWII veterans] are some of the most notable heroes in our heritage, and to have them here at our base is an outstanding opportunity to meet them, greet them, and to show our gratitude.”

Kilgore’s visit to Pearl Harbor marked his first trip back to Hawaii since 1948. Also in attendance were family members visiting from Huntsville, Ala., including his daughter, son-in-law and two great-granddaughters.

Kilgore said he was a 22-year-old Sailor aboard the USS Lexington (CV-2) during the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. However, his ship, which was normally moored at Pearl Harbor, was underway with Task Force 12, carrying Marine aircraft to reinforce Midway when the attacks happened.

According to Kilgore, the ship left the day before the first wave of Japanese planes hit Pearl Harbor.

“When we left [Pearl Harbor], I remember everything being so clear and peaceful,” recalled the Alabama native. “We went out 50 miles, and by 7 a.m. the next morning we got word that Pearl Harbor was being attacked by Japanese bombs, fighter [planes] and torpedoes.”

Lexington was immediately ordered to launch search planes to hunt for the Japanese fleet and meet up with other task forces to scour the borders of Oahu, looking for the enemy. According to Navy records, the ship did not return to Pearl Harbor until Dec. 13, where the young Sailor said he witnessed “total destruction.”

“By the time we got back, the whole harbor was [still] on fire,” Kilgore said. “The canal was still burning, ships were still burning. I mean there was still fire everywhere ... it was devastating.”

With the country now at war, Kilgore said his ship quickly reloaded and refueled and was underway within two days to assist in the war efforts. Kilgore would remain on the ship for another year, even surviving enemy torpedoes that eventually sunk the ship on May 8, 1942 in the Coral Sea.

Kilgore’s daughter, Starla “Darlene” Morton, recalled that during the attack her father had sustained serious injuries and was given a seat on one of the few lifeboats left from the initial blasts.

“A lot of lifeboats were destroyed [during the bombing] so getting on one was very crucial,” she said. “However, my dad gave up his seat for someone he noticed looked even more injured than him. We later found out that because of his efforts, the man’s life was saved.”

Morton said after the lifeboats left, her father ended up treading water with his other shipmates before being picked up by another ship several hours later.

During his 21-year Navy career, Kilgore said he saw 44 combat battles and even survived another ship sinking due to enemy fire.

Despite seeing a lot of action in military combat, Kilgore said he never received all of his combat decorations for his service in the war.

“Surviving what I did during the war, I think I earned those medals,” he said flatly. “I don’t know why I never got them.”

However, during a surprise birthday celebration aboard a Navy vessel at Pearl Harbor during his recent visit, Kilgore was presented with nearly a dozen decorations, including the Combat Action Ribbon and WWII Victory medal. The touching gesture brought tears to the veteran’s eyes.

“This is an unbelievable sight,” he said as Lee began pinning the medals to his uniform. “I never thought I would ever receive this [kind of] blessing in my life. I nearly lost my life several different times while fighting for my country, but to be [alive] here today and receive this kind of recognition ... it just makes it all worth it.”

Nearly four decades after retiring from service, the veteran had finally received the tribute he had always wanted.

“You will never know what this means to me,” he said holding some of his newfound medals in his hand. “I will remember this moment until my last dying breath.”

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