World War II Honoree

Robert James Bennett

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Phoenix, Arizona

Honored By

Mary Lou Bennett

Relationship

Wife

SERVED FROM JUNE 1943 UNTIL MARCH 1946. ABOARD USS CATOCTIN, USS SIBECK, GENERAL HARRY S. TAYLOR, PC-777 AND PC-555. IN THE TYPHOON BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN IN JULY 1945 ON HIS WAY TO INCHON, SOUTH KOREA. THE PC-555 SUSTAINED A 57 1/2 DEGREE LIST. WAVES WERE 110 FEET HIGH, AND THE WIND WAS 155 MILES PER HOUR. SEAMAN BENNETT WAS TIED TO THE STATION BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE SHIP FOR 6 HOURS ON AND 6 HOURS OFF DUTY TO STEER THE SHIP. THE TYPHOON LASTED THREE DAYS. THE SHIP WAS VERY BADLY DAMAGED. IT LOST ROCKET LAUNCHERS, ONE ANCHOR, SPLIT SEAMS ON THE SIDE OF THE SHIP FLOODING TWO COMPARTMENTS TO THE OVERHEAD.