World War II Honoree

Harry Shafer Cole

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Postville, Iowa

Honored By

Jennifer L. Cole

Relationship

Granddaughter

AVIATION CHIEF ORDNANCEMAN. ACCEPTED FOR NAVY ENLISTMENT AT DECORAH, IOWA ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1941. ATTENDED THE NAVAL TRAINING STATION AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. TRANSFERRED TO NAVAL AIR STATION (NAS) IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ON NOVEMBER 25, 1941. TOOK ADVANCED TRAINING AT THE ADVANCED BASE COORDINATING UNIT AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA STARTING MARCH 28, 1942. ON JULY 2, 1942 TRANSFERRED TO NAVAL AIR STATION, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA FOR ASSIGNMENT OUTSIDE CONTINENTAL U.S. HE SPENT APPROXIMATELY THE NEXT TWO YEARS IN THE PACIFIC ARENA AND LARGE PORTION OF THAT TIME ON THE NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS. FOLLOWING ARE THE VARIOUS VESSELS OR STATION IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER; LION NO. ONE (AUGUST 5, 1942), ACORN (RED) TWO (SEPTEMBER 9, 1942), FLEET AIR BASE UNIT NUMBER 4, CARRIER AIRCRAFT SERVICE UNIT TEN (JUNE 10, 1943), COMBAT AIRCRAFT SERVICE UNIT SEVEN (SEPTEMBER 11, 1944), COMPOSITE SQUADRON THREE (JANUARY 8, 1945), COMMANDER FLEET AIR NAVAL AIR STATION AT ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA (OCTOBER 21, 1945). PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN ABOARD THE USS SAVO ISLAND FROM SEPTEMBER 6-30, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA (NOVEMBER 9, 1945). WARTIME ACTIVITIES INCLUDED WORK AS A BASE BOMBSIGHT, MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT MECHANIC SERVICING NAVY PLANES. SPECIFICALLY, AS AN AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN (AO) RESPONSIBILITIES INVOLVED MAINTAINING, REPAIRING, INSTALLING, OPERATING AND HANDLING AVIATION ORDNANCE EQUIPMENT. DUTIES ALSO INCLUDED HANDLING, STOWING, ISSUING AND LOADING OF MUNITIONS AND SMALL ARMS. RECEIVED A LETTER OF COMMENDATION FOR DESIGN OF A MANUAL TRIGGER FOR A TORPEDO BOMBER POWER TURRET. ACCEPTED AS 'SHELLBACK' HAVING CROSSED THE EQUATOR WHILE ON A WAR MISSION. RECEIVED GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, HONORABLE DISCHARGE BUTTON AND EMBLEM, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN BUTTON.