ACTIVITY DURING WWII
ENLISTED ON 9 APRIL 1942 AT
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. TRAINED AT NAVAL TRAINING STATION SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.
30 JUNE 1942 REPORTED ABOARD THE USS VINCENNES CA-44, A HEAVY CRUISER. 6 JULY
1942 TRANSFERRED TO THE USS ASTORIA CA-34, A NEW ORLEANS CLASS CRUISER IN THE
PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. AUGUST, 1942 PART OF TASK GROUP 62.3 WITH FIRE
SUPPORT FOR GUADALCANAL-TULAGI LANDINGS. AT 1:50 A.M. 9 AUGUST 1942 ATTACKED BY
JAPANESE FORCES RIPPING IN TO THE SUPERSTRUCTURE TURNING AMIDSHIPS INTO AN
INFERNO. THE SHIP WAS HIT 65 TIMES DURING THE BATTLE OF SALVO ISLAND. DAMAGE WAS
TOO GREAT TO SAVE THE SHIP AND IT SANK AT 12:15 ON 9 AUGUST 1942. HE WAS
EVACUATED ON BOARD THE USS PRESIDENT JACKSON APA-18. 10 DECEMBER 1944 PLACE THE
USS BECKHAM APA-133 IN COMMISSION. 13 MARCH 1945 SUPPORTED IWO JIMA OPERATIONS.
24 JUNE 1945 SUPPORTED OKINAWA OPERATIONS. RATING OF CARPENTER'S MATE SECOND
CLASS PETTY OFFICER.
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