World War II Honoree

Donald 'Hunter' Feague

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Sharon, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Jeanne Bandolina

Relationship

Daughter

HE SERVED ON THE USS PURDY DD-734 FROM 1943 TO 1946. HE WAS ONE OF THE 14 PLANK OWNERS WHEN THE USS PURDY WAS BUILT AND COMMISSIONED FOR SERVICE OUT OF BATH, MAINE. ONCE THE SHIP WAS PLACED IN ACTIVE DUTY, HE SERVED IN THE ATLANTIC AND THE PACIFIC. WHILE IN THE PACIFIC HE SERVED DUTY IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, THEN EXPERIENCED HEAVY ACTION WITH THE JAPANESE IN OKINAWA AND WAS ATTACKED BY 18-20 KAMIKAZE PLANES. THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING DOWN ABOUT 14 OF THE PLANES BEFORE HIS UNIT TOOK A DIRECT HIT BY ONE OF THE REMAINING AIRCRAFT. HE WAS A PARTICIPATING MEMBER OF THE CREW THAT SUCCESSFULLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE THAT COULD HAVE SPREAD AND DESTROYED THE SHIP. FOLLOWING REPAIRS IN SAN FRANCISCO THEY RETURNED TO JAPAN TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION, HOWEVER THE SHIP ARRIVED IN OKINAWA THE DAY AFTER JAPAN HAD SURRENDERED. FOLLOWING THE SURRENDER THEY BECAME PART OF THE OCCUPATIONAL FORCES THAT PATROLLED THE JAPANESE COASTLINE DURING THE FOLLOWING YEAR. ONCE THE TOUR WAS COMPLETE THE SHIP RETURNED BACK TO PORTLAND, MAINE VIA THE PANAMA CANAL WHERE HE WAS GIVEN AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE AND RETURNED HOME TO PENNSYLVANIA.