World War II Honoree

Alfred Aron 'Blackie' Getchell

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Portland, Oregon

Honored By

Richard Aron Getchell IC1(SS)

Relationship

Son

ENTERED THE NAVY ON DECEMBER 9, 1941 AT THE AGE OF 17 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS. BOATSWAIN'S MATE STRIKER. FIRST WENT TO THE DECK GANG ON THE USS RICHMOND CL-9 TO BORA BORA, PANAMA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS BATTLE OF THE KOMANDORSKIE. THEN TO THE USS ST. LOUIS CL-49, 'LUCKY LOU' WHICH EARNED 12 BATTLE STARS. AS A 40MM GUN DIRECTOR BETWEEN THE STACKS, HE WAS CREDITED WITH SHOOTING DOWN AT LEAST 2 KAMIKAZE PLANES BY CAPTAIN R.H. ROBERTS. THE ST. LOUIS CONTINUED ON TO LEYTE GULF, OKINAWA, MIDWAY AND MANY MORE. WOUNDED, BUT NEVER STOPPED SHOOTING AND NEVER RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART. HE WAS AT THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN AND THEN WENT TO SHANGHAI AND SET UP THE OLD YANGSTE PATROL. CONTINUED SERVICE DURING KOREA AND VIETNAM.