World War II Honoree

Grant Leslie Chaffee, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Camarillo, California

Honored By

Sharon Ferro

Relationship

Daughter

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY IN VENTURA, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 19, 1943 AND WENT TO BOOT CAMP AT THE U.S. NAVAL STATION IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNED TO CORPSMAN SCHOOL AT THE U.S. NAVAL HOSPITAL THERE AND BECAME A HOSPITAL APPRENTICE. HE THEN VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE IN THE MARINE CORPS AS HOSPITAL APPRENTICE II. TRAINED IN HOSPITAL SURGERY AT CAMP ELLIOTT, SAN DIEGO AND THEN WAS ASSIGNED TO CAMP PENDLETON AS A CORPSMAN WITH THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION, 4TH MEDICAL BATTALION, COMPANY C. IN JANUARY 1944 WAS SENT DIRECTLY TO ROI-NAMUR ISLAND, MARSHALL ISLANDS FOR INVASION AGAINST THE JAPANESE. AFTER THE INVASION WAS OVER HE WAS SENT BACK TO MAUI, HAWAII AND STATIONED AT CAMP MAUI, MAKAWAO, HAWAII. JUNE 1944 HE WAS SENT TO SAIPAN, MARIANA ISLANDS. HE WAS WOUNDED DURING THE INVASION AND SUBSEQUENTLY EVACUATED TO HONOLULU THEN BACK TO MAUI, HAWAII. AFTER RECOVERING, HE WAS SENT TO IWO JIMA. ON HIS 20TH BIRTHDAY FEBRUARY 23, 1945 HE LANDED ON IWO JIMA AND AFTER THE ISLAND WAS SECURED HE WAS SENT BACK TO MAUI, HAWAII. AFTER AUGUST 1945, ASSIGNED TO THE NAVY AND PUT ABOARD THE SS BRETON TO HELP BRING TROOPS BACK FROM THE PACIFIC. HIS LAST TRIP BRINGING TROOPS HOME WAS FROM JAPAN. HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY FEBRUARY 1946. AT DISCHARGE HIS CLASSIFICATION WAS PHARMACIST'S MATE 2ND CLASS, V-6, U.S. NAVAL RESERVES. PHARMACIST'S MATE 2ND CLASS. AWARDED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION RIBBON, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 3 STARS, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 STAR, 1 BRONZE STAR MEDAL, 1 BRONZE STAR MEDAL ATTACHED WITH COMBAT V AND THE PURPLE HEART.