World War II Honoree

James E. Hetherington

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Huntsville, Alabama

Honored By

Floyd Fan Veteran's Home & War Veterans Madison County

SERVED AT THE FLEET POST OFFICE IN HONOLULU, HAWAII. HE ENTERED THE SERVICE IN 1945. AFTER BOOT TRAINING IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA HE SHIPPED OUT TO HONOLULU VIA AIRCRAFT CARRIER. ON THE WAY THE SHIP'S ALARM WENT OFF DUE TO DETECTION OF AN UNIDENTIFIED VESSEL. EVERYONE DONNED LIFE VESTS AND MANNED THE GUNS UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR CAME. NO VESSEL WAS SIGHTED, BUT IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING FOR A YOUNG, GREEN SAILOR. ONCE AT THE FLEET POST OFFICE, THEY TOOK GREAT CARE TO GET MAIL TO THE MEN AT THE LINES OF BATTLE. THEY COULD TELL WHEN AN INVASION WAS PLANNED DUE TO THE NUMBER OF SHIPS IN THE HARBOR, WHEN AN INVASION WAS UNDERWAY. ALSO, THEY WOULD BE TOLD TO HOLD THE MAIL FOR THOSE TROOPS. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THEY WOULD SEND IT ON THE FIRST PLANE OR SHIP HEADED THAT WAY. THEY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF WORD FROM HOME, TO THE MORALE OF THE TROOPS. THERE WAS AN LST THAT WAS LOADED WITH DYNAMITE THAT EXPLODED IN THE HARBOR, SETTING OFF A CHAIN REACTION WITH OTHER SHIPS LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVES. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE FIRE AND MANY CASUALTIES THAT WERE SENT TO THE NAVAL HOSPITAL THERE.