World War II Honoree

Charles Woodruff 'C.W.' Colvin

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Ruston, Louisiana

Honored By

Charles Woodruff Colvin

Relationship

Self

HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NAVAL ARMED GUARD JANUARY 1, 1943, AS SEAMAN 2ND CLASS. HE LATER WAS PROMOTED TO SIGNALMAN 2ND CLASS IN THE ARMED GUARD WHICH WAS A BRANCH OF THE U.S. NAVY SERVING ON MERCHANT MARINE VESSELS ARMED FOR WARTIME. THE SHIPS TRANSPORTED TANKS, PLANES, BOMBS, FUEL, SULPHUR TO MAKE AMMUNITION AND OTHER WAR SUPPLIES TO PORTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. IN FEBRUARY 1943 HE WENT TO ENGLAND TRANSPORTING WAR SUPPLIES. IN NOVEMBER 1943, HEADED AGAIN FOR ENGLAND AND MADE SEVERAL MORE TRIPS. HIS LAST TRIP WAS TO TAKE AIRPLANE FUEL FOR THE NORMANDY INVASION. IN AUGUST 1944, HE WAS REASSIGNED TO THE SS COLLIN MCKINNEY AND BECAUSE OF ILLNESS, HE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE STATES FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. HE TOOK A SHORT MEDICAL LEAVE TO UNDERGO A TONSILLECTOMY IN OCTOBER 1944 AND SAILED FROM NEW ORLEANS TO THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. WITH SUPPLIES THEY HEADED TO LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINES AND NEW GUINEA. HE MADE 8 ROUND TRIPS ACROSS THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND 2 ROUND TRIPS TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMED GUARD.