World War II Honoree

Donald D. Hamachek

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Annabelle Hamachek

Relationship

Wife

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER/NAVIGATOR. SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY ABOARD THE U.S. COAST GUARD VESSEL GRESHAM (EX-USS WILLOUGHBY) W-387. DELIVERED THE FRIGATE BEAUFORT DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA TO NEW ORLEANS. THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE USS VANCE DE-387, A DESTROYER ESCORT MAKING ROUND TRIP VOYAGES TO THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN. ON THE MORNING OF MAY 11, 1944, FOUR DAYS AFTER GERMANY SURRENDERED, THE VANCE CAPTURED THE GERMAN U-BOAT U-873 AND DELIVERED IT TO PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE. AFTER ALTERATIONS, THE VANCE WAS DISPATCHED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS UNTIL WAR'S END.