WWII

Watson Milton Tuggle

Rate / Rank
FN

Birthdate
February 5 1924

Date of Death
December 14 2007

Branch
US Navy

Active Duty Service
July 17 1942 - October 4 1945

Conflicts & Campaigns

Pacific

Significant Duty Stations

Naval Air Station Bermuda
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)

Decorations & Citations

America Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory Medal

Notes

US Navy service number 551-96-71. Born; Cairo, Georgia. It was from the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) that future president LTJG George Bush flew to bomb the radio station at Chichijima, Bush meet heavy anti-aircraft fire and crashed his damaged plane. He was the only member of the crew of three that survived. He was rescued by a US Submarine after planes from the San Jacinto kept the Japanese in a boat from capturing him. Other pilots that were shot down and captured on Chichijima were murdered and body parts eaten by the Japanese officers. They were tried and convicted of war crimes after the war ended. Details of the events on Chchijima are recorded in the book "Flyboys" by James Bradley. Milton is buried in the Maxwell-Bond Cemetery, Cairo, Georgia.