Gerald Fay Lairamore was born May 8, 1924 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Ar. to Fay Henry & Lora Elsie Tolleson Lairamore On Jan 18, 1949 Gerald married Faye Irene Gregory from Pecola, LeFlore, Ok. June 30. 1942 Gerald registered for the draft at Fort Smith, Ar. He was 18 years old and working for the Murta Furniture, Co. at Fort Smith. On May 19, 1943 Gerald enlisted with the US Navy. On Oct 18, 1943 S2c Lairamore boarded the USS Nashville (CL 43) as a sailor. On Dec 14, 1944 he was aboard the USS Bountiful (AH-9). The USS Nashville had been the target of a Kamikaze Attack on December 13, 1944. All of the Marines manning the AA weapons on the boat deck and the sailors manning the 5-inch guns in the midship area on both the starboard and port side were wounded or killed. The USS Bountiful, a hospital ship, took many of the wounded on board, including S2c Lairamore. By Dec 23. 1944 after massive repairs the USS Nashville was again ready for duty. S2c Lairamore was again on board. You can read the details of that attack as well as other information about the happenings aboard the USS Nashville from 1944-1945 at "1943-1945 - My Tour Aboard the USS Nashville (CL-43)" written by a Marine who was on board at that time. After the war Gerald retured to his home in Sebastian Co., Ar. and, as mentioned above, was married in 1949. May 6 1998, 2 days before his birthday, Gerald passed away at Fort Smith, Ar.and was buried in the Macedonia Cemetery in Pocola, LeFlore Co., Oklahoma. From a Wounded List of US Navy Personnel