On the road

On the road

Monday, April 29, 2013

Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013


 

Most people, when they think of being drafted in WWII think that one was always sent to the Army. This was not always the case. Harold is one such example. He was drafted into the U.S.Navy on September 3, 1943. He was 18 years old.

After basic training, Harold was sent to the south Pacific and became a coxswain on a UP or (VP) boat.

Harold participated in the invasion of the island of Okinawa by soldiers and Marines in the Spring of 1945. He also was present during the infamous typhoon that hit Task Group 38 east of Okinawa in June of 1945. This task force was built around the aircraft carriers Hornet (new) and the Bennington. Because of faulty communication and not-so-precise weather forecasting at the time the fleet was hit hard by the front and sailors were lost. Many ships were damaged including a cruiser losing part of its bow, and an aircraft carrier having an aircraft elevator destroyed.

Harold was discharged on January 6, 1946. He had been awarded the Pacific Commendation medal.

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