World War II Honoree

Douglas A. Friedrich

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Ayer, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

JOINED FROM AYER, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1944. BASIC TRAINING IN SAMPSON, NEW YORK. SENT TO NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND FOR NAVAL ORIENTATION AND SEAMANSHIP TRAINING. NEXT, TO BROOKLYN NAVAL SHIPYARD, NEW YORK AND ASSIGNED TO THE PRE-COMMISSIONING CREW OF THE USS MISSOURI BB-63. THEN TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN FOR SHAKEDOWN CRUISE AND TRAINING OPERATIONS WITH OTHER BATTLESHIPS. PROCEEDED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL AND JOINED THE FAST CARRIER TASK FORCE 58 OF THE 7TH FLEET. TRAINED AS A BAKER AND BATTLE STATION WAS AS A LOOKOUT ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE UPPER SUPERSTRUCTURE. THE USS MISSOURI WAS THE FLAGSHIP OF THE 7TH FLEET AND ADMIRAL BULL HALSEY WAS ABOARD. STOPPED MANY PLACES IN THE PACIFIC, INCLUDING THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. IN THE PACIFIC, THE SHIP WAS ATTACKED BY A KAMIKAZE AND ONCE HAD A 500-POUND BOMB DROPPED ON ITS DECK. SHELLED THE SHORE LINES FROM THERE TO IWO JIMA, OKINAWA AND UP TO JAPAN. IN JAPAN, SHELLED HOKKAIDO AND HONSHU MAINLAND FOR 5 DAYS ALONG WITH 5 OTHER BATTLESHIPS AND BRITISH WARSHIPS. GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, ADMIRAL NIMITZ AND OTHER DIGNITARIES CAME ABOARD FOR THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY ENDING WWII. CREW WAS AT BATTLE STATIONS THE ENTIRE TIME. AFTER THE TREATY WAS SIGNED, SAILED FOR SAN FRANCISCO, BACK THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, AND RETURNED TO NEW YORK. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BATTLE STARS AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. AS A SEAMAN FIRST CLASS, RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN 1946 AND CONTINUED TO SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD UNTIL 1966.