Len was a student at John Tarleton College in Stephenville,
Texas on Sunday, December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
On September 23, 1942 Len was inducted into the U.S. Navy.
After basic training, Len was given further training and became a Pharmacist
Mate.
Len was assigned to the U.S.S. Bowditch, AGS 4-A which was a
hydrographic survey ship. The job of the
Bowditch was to sail into enemy waters before an invasion, and map the area for
the oncoming invasion.
The Bowditch saw action in the waters off Kwajalein and
Majuro atolls. Later Len and the Bowditch were involved in the invasion of
Saipan, and in the spring of 1945, the invasion of the island of Okinawa.
The Bowditch received three battles stars during the war, and
is credited with shooting down three Japanese kamikaze aircraft. In fact, one
of Len’s ongoing and memorable experiences, is standing on deck and watching
the kamikaze planes and wondering which ship would be hit.
Len got out of the Navy in February, 1945 with the rank of Pharmacist
Mate 2nd class.
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