World War II Honoree

Maynard Clifton Pless

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cambridge, Alabama

Honored By

Marilyn Judith Carney

Relationship

Niece

CHIEF ENGINEMAN. AFTER SERVING BRIEFLY IN ALASKA, HE WAS RE-ASSIGNED TO THE DESTROYER, USS MUSTIN DD-413 IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER. CAME ABOARD THE USS MUSTIN IN OCTOBER 1942 AFTER THE SINKING OF THE USS HORNET WHICH THE USS MUSTIN WAS ACCOMPANYING AT GUADALCANAL. AFTER THAT, THE DESTROYER REMAINED ACTIVE IN THE GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN, SCREENING HEAVY SHIPS, ESCORTING SUPPLY VESSELS AND BOMBARDING THE JAPANESE ASHORE. AFTER THE ENEMY EVACUATED GUADALCANAL IN FEBRUARY 1943, THE USS MUSTIN SPENT A FEW MORE MONTHS IN THE REGION. THE SHIP THEN WENT NORTH TO JOIN IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN WHERE SHE TOOK PART IN THE LANDINGS ON ATTU IN MAY AND KISKA IN AUGUST. DURING LATE 1943 AND EARLY 1944, THE DESTROYER PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGNS TO SEIZE BASES IN THE GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS. SERVED WITH TASK FORCE 58 DURING ITS CENTRAL PACIFIC RAIDS IN MARCH AND APRIL 1944 AND BECAME PART OF THE 7TH FLEET SOON AFTERWARDS. WHILE IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, THE USS MUSTIN SUPPORTED THE ADVANCE ACROSS THE TOP OF NEW GUINEA, THE INVASION OF MOROTAI AND THE LEYTE OPERATION. IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1945, USS MUSTIN TOOK PART IN THE INVASION OF LUZON AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE RECAPTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES. SERVED OFF OKINAWA DURING APRIL AND MAY, DURING THE HARD BATTLE TO TAKE THAT ISLAND IN THE FACE OF DESPERATE RESISTANCE ASHORE AND KAMIKAZE PLANE ATTACKS AT SEA. AFTER THE FIGHTING ENDED, THE USS MUSTIN HELPED WITH THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN. THE SHIP BRIEFLY VISITED THE WEST COAST IN LATE 1945, THEN WENT TO HAWAII TO PREPARE FOR TARGET DUTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE JULY 1946 ATOMIC BOMB TESTS AT BIKINI ATOLL. MADE A CAREER OF THE NAVY, SERVING LATER IN THE ATLANTIC ABOARD THE GUNBOAT USS PLYMOUTH EG-57, THEN TROUBLE SHOT SUBMARINE REPAIR BASES. LATER HE SERVED ON LANDING CRAFT IN THE PACIFIC ON THE LCI 715.