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Bennie Franklin Grunden

BRANCH OF SERVICE
U.S. Navy

HOMETOWN
Paoli, IN

HONORED BY
Grateful American
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
ENTERED SERVICE ON 10 DECEMBER 1943. RECRUIT TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. REPORTED ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS AMMEN (DD-527), DESTROYER SQUADRON 24, DESTROYER DIVISION 48. ON 5 APRIL 1944 AT BUNA ROADS, NEW GUINEA. SUPPORTED INVASIONS AT AITAPE-HOLLANDIA, BOSKIN, CAPE SANSAPORT, LEYTE GULF AND OKINAWA. SHIP WAS HIT BY A TWIN ENGINE 'FRANCES' BOMBER ON 11 NOVEMBER 1944. SHIP WAS AWARDED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION FOR OUTSTANDING HEROISM IN ACTION DURING THE INVASION OF OKINAWA. HE DEPARTED THE USS AMMEN (DD-527) ON 29 OCTOBER 1945 AT SASEBO, JAPAN FOR DISCHARGE ON 28 NOVEMBER 1945. AWARDS INCLUDE THE NAVY UNIT CITATION, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL, PHILIPPINES LIBERATION MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. SHIPFITTER THIRD CLASS PETTY OFFICER.