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.