ACTIVITY DURING WWII
ENLISTED ON 26 MAY 1943 AT
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. SERVED ON THE USS OWEN (DD-536) A FLETCHER CLASS
DESTROYER, FROM 20 NOVEMBER 1943 TO 1 MAY 1946. ASSIGNED TO DESTROYER SQUADRON
52, DESTROYER DIVISION 103 AS FLAGSHIP, AND A PART OF TASK FORCE 58 (FAST
CARRIER TASK FORCE), 5TH FLEET IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. JANUARY AND
FEBRUARY 1944 OPERATED OFF KWAJALEIN AND MAJURO IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. MARCH
22 COMPLETED STRIKES ON PALAU, YAP, ULITHI AND WOLEAI. APRIL 1944 SAILED TO NEW
GUINEA WITH RAIDS ON HOLLANDIA, WAKEO, SEWAR AND SAMI. THEN HIT SATAWAN AND
PONAPE, MARCUS AND WAKE ISLAND. JUNE 1944 SUPPORTED ASSAULT ON SAIPAN, TINIAN,
ROTA, AND GUAM. THEN ON TO THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA AND SAN BERNARDINO
STRAITS WHERE THEY HELP TO SINK THE JAPANESE DESTROYER NOWAKI, AND RAIDED ENEMY
INSTALLATION ON THE PHILIPPINE ISLAND UNTIL 11 DECEMBER 1944. JANUARY 1945
BLASTED INSTALLATIONS FROM SAIGON TO RYUKYU ISLANDS. FEBRUARY 1945 SUPPORTED
ASSAULT ON IWO JIMA AND TOKYO PLAINS. MARCH 1945 ESCORTED THE DAMAGED CARRIER
USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) TO ULITHI. 20 JUNE 1945 SET A HOMEWARD COURSE. EARNED NINE
BATTLE STARS FOR WWII SERVICE. AWARDED NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION FOR STANDING BY
BURNING CARRIER USS FRANKLIN (CV-13). RATING OF STOREKEEPER FIRST CLASS PETTY
OFFICER. |