World War II Honoree

Jose Andres 'Andy' Chacon

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Penasco, New Mexico

Honored By

Jose Andres 'Andy' Chacon

AFTER BOOT CAMP AT FARRAGUT IN IDAHO, SELECTED TO ATTEND AVIATION ORDNANCE SCHOOL AT NORMAN, OKLAHOMA FOR A 14-WEEK COURSE ABOUT NAVAL AIR WARFARE AND HOW TO USE BOMBS, FUSES AND MACHINE GUNS. NEXT SENT TO AERIAL GUNNERY SCHOOL AT SAND POINT AND SLATED FOR TORPEDO SQUADRONS. LEARNED HOW TO SHOOT SKEET AND TRAP, BOTH PREREQUISITES TO LEARNING HOW TO LEAD OR LAG A MOVING TARGET. FROM GUNNERY SCHOOL, SENT TO THE NAVAL AIR STATION IN SEATTLE AND ASSIGNED TO SQUADRON VC-75 WITH TORPEDO AVENGER BOMBERS AND WILDCAT FIGHTERS. FLEW AS THE TURRET GUNNER AND MANNED A .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUN MOUNTED IN AN ELECTRIC TURRET. SELECTED TO ATTEND TURRET MECHANIC'S SCHOOL AT JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. UPON RETURN TO THE SQUADRON, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE TURRETS IN ALL THE TORPEDO BOMBERS ASSIGNED TO THE SQUADRON IN WORKING CONDITION. NEXT ASSIGNED TO THE USS OMMANEY BAY CVE-79 ON THE HIGH SEAS WITH THE SEVENTH FLEET, UNDER ADMIRAL F.B. STUMP. JOINED THE SQUADRON IN TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MOROTAI, ANGUAR, PELELIU OPERATIONS AND IN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA. NEW YEARS EVE 1945, PULLED UP ANCHOR AND MOVED OUT INTO THE SULU SEA. ON JANUARY 4, 1945 THE SHIP RECEIVED A DIRECT HIT BY A KAMIKAZE. THE USS PATTERSON DESTROYER ESCORT CAME TO PICK UP SURVIVORS. TRANSFERRED TO THE USS COLUMBIA AND THEN THE USS CALIFORNIA. GIVEN A 30 DAY LEAVE AND RETURNED TO SAN FRANCISCO FEBRUARY 17TH. TOTAL NAVY SERVICE WAS TWO YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS AND EIGHTEEN DAYS. ENLISTED ON 4/29/43 AND WAS DISCHARGED 12/16/45. ATTAINED THE RANKS OF APPRENTICE SEAMAN, FIREMAN 3RD CLASS, AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN 3RD CLASS AND AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN (TURRETS) 2ND CLASS. RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC WITH 4 STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL 2 STARS AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.