Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
New Orleans, Louisiana
Honored By
Steven Holloway
Relationship
Nephew
ASSIGNED TO THE 113TH BATTALION (SEABEES) HE SERVED IN THE PACIFIC INCLUDING MIOS WOENDI; AMSTERDAN AND SOEMESOEME ISLANDS; LEYTE, SAMAR AND MINDORO. HE MAINLY SUPPORTED THE PT BOATS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. AWARDED A SILVER STAR AND ONE OF HIS TWO PURPLE HEARTS FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTION. ON DECEMBER 15, 1944 AT 9 AM DURING THE D-DAY LANDINGS AT MINDORO LST 472 WAS STRUCK BY A KAMIKAZE KILLING 5 OF THE SEABEES ABOARD AND WOUNDING SEVEN OTHERS SERIOUSLY. A SECOND LST (LST-71) BARELY ESCAPED A SIMILAR FATE. A KAMIKAZE DIVED AT THE SHIP BUT HE SHOT IT DOWN WHEN IT WAS ONLY FIFTY FEET AWAY. THOUGH WOUNDED HIMSELF HAD REPLACED A WOUNDED GUNNER OF THE SHIPS CREW. HE WAS BURNED SEVERELY WHEN THE PLANE EXPLODED VIRTUALLY IN HIS FACE.