John Gerald Cranford enlisted in U. S. Navy on January 31, 1945. His date of entry was February 22, 1945 from the Naval Recruiting Station, Nashville, Tennessee. His ratings held were seaman second class and seaman first class. John’s service included the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, and the USS Shadwell (LSD-15). His awards include the American Theater Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.