Michael enlisted into the U.S. Navy on May 12, 1943 at the
age of 20. Like many men of his age, he enlisted instead of waiting to be
drafted because he didn’t want to go into the Army, and he wanted to work around
“lots of electronics.”
After basic training Michael reported for duty on the U.S.S.
McCord, DD-534. The ship was new, having only recently been launched on January
10, 1943 and commissioned on August 19, 1943. Michael’s job on board the McCord
was that of an ETM-2C. He installed and maintained the extensive array of
radios, radar and all the other electronic equipment that made the destroyer a lethal
weapon of war.
The McCord was involved in many battles in the Pacific
theater. These include but aren’t limited to the campaigns in the Marshall and
Marianas island chain. She participated in the Palau island battle as well as
the Battle of Samar off the coast of the Philippines. In 1945 the ship was
involved in the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Decommissioned in 1947 the
McCord was brought back into service in 1953 during the Korean conflict.
Michael was discharged on April 9, 1946.
No comments:
Post a Comment