At the age of 20, William M. Lyon enlisted in the US Navy on Aug. 9th, 1939 for six years. His training card indicated he had ten years of public school and completed several Navy courses, apparently in the mechanical field.

His first training card in Oct. of 1939 indicated he had completed recruit training and qualified in swimming, received gas mask training, and received a score of 330 out of 400.

On Dec. 9th, 1939 he was transferred to the USS ARKANSAS out of Norfolk. On May 23rd, 1949 he was transferred to the USS DALLAS for duty in Commander Destroyer Squadron 41.

On Jan. 3rd, 1941 he was transferred to 'receiving ship' in San Francisco for general detail. Seven days later he was assigned to the USS SALT LAKE CITY, where he was serving when Pearl Harbor was attacked. His file indicates that he was on board when "this vessel as a unit of Task Group 64.2 US Pacific Fleet, participated in the highly successful action against Japanese Naval Surface Units - night of Oct. 11-12, 1942 off Savo Island, Solomon Islands. The Commanding Officer is pleased to state that Lyon performed his duties at his battle station in a highly satisfactory manner."

By Dec. 1st, 1942, he had advanced to the rank of MM1c. Subsequent battle cards indicate "Lyon was one of the members of the crew during a surface engagement off the Komandorski Islands March 26th, 1943, in which the task group of which this vessel was a part engaged in battle with a superior enemy force of approximately twice the size of our own force and at the end of three hours and 25 minutes, the enemy broke off the engagement and retreated without accomplishing his mission.

A message from CinC, US Fleet, stated..."At two to one odds you have delayed the enemy mission and inflicted telling damage. Well done. Your courageous action approved in admiration of all units of this force. Return soon. We need ships of your character." It is a privilege to record that you as a member of the ship's company in this action in this action performed your duty in an extremely satisfactory manner". B. J. Rodgers, Capt.

Military Actions
Raid on Marshall Island, Feb. 1st, 1942
Raid on Wake Island, Feb. 24th, 1942
Raid on Marcus Island, Mar. 4th, 1942
Raid on Tokyo, Apr. 18th, 1942-Doolittle Raid
Covering force for occupation of Guadalcanal, Aug. 7-9, 1942
Covering force for defense and capture of Guadalcanal, Aug. 10, 1942
WASP Task Force during Eastern Solomon Battle Aug. 23-25, 1942
Bombardments of Kiska & Aleutian Islands, Aug. 2-12, 1943
Oct. 31, 1943: Transferred to RS Navy no 128 for transport to West Coast, where he was to report to the Nordberg Steam Engine School, Milwaukee, WI. for a course of instruction beginning Nov. 29th.
Dec. 21, 1943: transferred from there to the Puget Sound navy Yard, Bremerton, WA. for 'assignment to CVE Nordberg detail'.
Jan. 6, 1944: Transferred to CVE Pre-Commissioning detail, Astoria, OR. received on board the USS GAMBIER BAY.