Norman graduated from high school in June, 1945. In the
month previous, Norman had enlisted with a large group of his classmates in the
U.S.Navy. There was the thought among thousands of high school seniors during
the summer of 1945 that war would soon be over. There was a patriotic fervor
still in this last year of the war. Many wanted to get in before it was all
over.
Norman began basic training during the summer of ’45 and was
trained as a seaman, eventually attaining the job of Yeoman Striker, Seaman
First Class.
He was assigned to the U.S.S. Talbot AG-81(ex DD-156.) The
Talbot was an old ship, a destroyer launched at the very end of WWI, the date
being December 14, 1918. During WWII the Talbot participated in escort and
Atlantic convoy duties. The Talbot was
known as a “Four Stacker” since it had four smoke stacks. There were many
sailors in the Navy at the time and even to this day it is a source of pride to
have sailed on a classic ship of this kind.
Norman didn’t get out of boot camp until August 1945, the
end of the war. By the end of WWII the Talbot had been reclassified as AG-81. Norman
was assigned to this ship and sailed off Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This old
destroyer was used as a target tug for naval aircraft such as the TBF Avenger
torpedo bomber. The old ship was still serving well during its last few years.
It was struck and sold for scrap in 1946.
Norman got in late in the war, but he can say that served honorably,
along with his classmates! He was discharged on August 17, 1946, beginning
college in the Fall of 1946.
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