| Branch of Service or Wartime Activity: |
U.S. Navy |
|
Enlisted |
| Service dates: |
1943 to 1963 |
| Highest Rank: |
CPO |
| Unit, Division, Battalion, Group, Ship, etc. |
(Ships) Kitkun Bay, Savo Island, Makin Island, Essex Boxter, Princeton - Philippine Sea, Kearsage; (Squadrons) VC-91, VC-35, VC-5 |
| War, operation, or conflict served in: |
Pacific |
| Battles/Campaigns: |
Lingayan Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam |
| Medals or special awards: |
DFC (6) Air Medals, Presidential Citation, 10 APCMs, Purple Heart, Korean Pres Citation, Philippine Liberation, Asiatic Pacific Campaign (4) WWII Medal Vietnam |
| Special duties / highlights / achievements: |
Lifetime member of The Distinguished Flying Cross Society |
| Was the veteran a prisoner of war? |
No |
| Did the veteran sustain combat or service-related injuries? |
Yes |
| Addional Bio Info: |
Went to 3 aerial gunner schools. Flight Engineer on PBATs. In charge of Crash Crew/Security Whiting Field. Flew 23,000 Hours. 237 carrier take-offs. Supervisor QC Gemini Complex Cape Canaveral. BS Rollins College.
Sept 2. 1944 Pilot killed bailed out - Guadel Canal Air-Air Combat. Injured eyes, blind for 5 days
1947 Plane crash Banana River, 18 aboard 2 survivors
1944 Guam plane crash.
Flight deck crash on Princeton - landing gear.
On Guadal Canal sortie of 30 Japanese planes to 16 American planes, "I shot four down". |