Profiles Honor Flight DFW #19

 

Wallace entered service with the U.S. Navy on October 17, 1942 at the age of 18.

After basic training, Wallace attended further training and was assigned as a range finder and fire control officer that were in conjunction with the destroyer’s main batteries and torpedoes. Soon, he was assigned to the destroyer, U.S.S. Maury (DD#401.)

Wallace was sent to the South Pacific and participated in many campaigns. He was subsequently with the 5^th and then the 7^th fleets.

The Maury saw action in the raid on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. The raid on Wake Island, the Battle of Midway and the invasion of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The battles at Stewart and Santa Cruz Islands, the Marianas Operation, West New Guinea, the Caroline’s Islands, Guam and the Leyte Gulf invasion during the Philippine Islands campaign.

Wallace’s awards included the Asiatic Pacific Campaign with four stars, the Philippine liberation ribbon with two stars and the WWII Victory medal. He was discharged as a 2^nd class Petty Officer on December 18, 1945.