World War II Honoree

Charles Calvin Cheek

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Jonesville, North Carolina

Honored By

Diane, William & David MacCormack

Relationship

Daughter & Grandsons

CHARLES CALVIN CHEEK (8297937) ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVAL RESERVE ON FEBRUARY 25, 1943 IN YADKINVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NAVY AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN ON THE SAME DATE AND WAS ORDERED TO CAMP CROFT, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE RECEIVED ORDERS TO REPORT FOR ACTIVE DUTY ON MARCH 4, 1943 AT THE NAVAL TRAINING STATION AT BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND, WHERE HE COMPLETED EIGHT WEEKS OF RECRUIT TRAINING. ON MAY 20, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL, WENTWORTH INSTITUTE, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS FOR A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN MACHINIST’S MATE SCHOOL. UPON GRADUATION, HE WAS PROMOTED TO MACHINISTS’ MATE SECOND CLASS AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE REPAIR SHIP USS VULCAN AR-5 IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. IN MARCH 1944, THE VULCAN WAS ORDERED TO DUTY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND CHARLES BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. HE QUALIFIED AS A 'SHELLBACK' WHEN THE SHIP CROSSED THE EQUATOR ON JANUARY 27, 1945. CROSSING THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE ON FEBRUARY 5, 1945 QUALIFIED HIM AS A 'GOLDEN DRAGON'. CHARLES BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL ON FEBRUARY 23, 1945. SOON AFTER, HE BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. ON APRIL 15, 1945, HE RECEIVED A LETTER OF COMMENDATION WRITTEN BY COMMANDER, SERVICE SQUADRON, SOUTH PACIFIC FOR EXPEDITIOUS REPAIR WORK DURING FEBRUARY AND MARCH 1945. HE WAS LATER AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON. ON OCTOBER 7, 1945, CHARLES CHEEK RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE U.S. NAVY AT SHELTON, VIRGINIA.