World War II Honoree

Benjamin Groenewold

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Maynard L. Beamesderfer

Relationship

Friend

ENTERED THE NAVY IN APRIL 1942. SPENT TIME AT GLENVIEW AIR STATION. MOST OF MY CAREER WAS ABOARD THE USS INCREDIBLE (A MINE SWEEPER). SERVED IN BOTH EUROPEAN AND PACIFIC THEATERS. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1943 OUR GROUP REPELLED AN ATTACK OF 12 HUMAN TORPEDOES. SWEPT MINES BOTH IN ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS. OURS WAS THE FIRST SHIP TO SAIL THROUGH TO THE BLACK SEA TO THE YALTA AREA. WERE SET TO INVADE SOUTHERN FRANCE, BUT THE FREE FRENCH LIBERATED THE AREA. WAS DISCHARGED IN APRIL 1946.