World War II Honoree

Frank Stanley Chaffin

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Liberal, Kansas

Honored By

Maxine Margaret Miller Chaffin

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON JULY 1, 1943 AT NORMAN, OKLAHOMA IN THE NAVY V-12 COLLEGE TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT NORMAN UNTIL MARCH 1944 WHEN HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE NAVAL RESERVE PRE-MIDSHIPMEN’S SCHOOL, AT ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY. SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED TO MIDSHIPMAN SCHOOL AT THE NAVY V-12 UNIT AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND WAS COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN IN SEPTEMBER 1944. ATTENDED THE SIX WEEK NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR FIRE CONTROLMAN AT FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA DURING OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 1944. ASSIGNED TO THE LIGHT CRUISER USS DAYTON CL-105 AS PART OF THE SHIP’S PRE-COMMISSIONING DETAIL AT THE LARGE SHIP PRE-COMMISSIONING TRAINING CENTER, NAVAL TRAINING STATION, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. HIS SHIP WAS LAUNCHED ON MARCH 19, 1944 BY NEW YORK SHIPBUILDING AT CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY. HE WAS ONE OF THE USS DAYTON’S ORIGINAL 'PLANK OWNERS.' AFTER A SHAKEDOWN CRUISE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA TO TRINIDAD, OFF SOUTH AMERICA, HE WAS REASSIGNED TO THE ESCORT AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS TAKANIS BAY CVE-89. HIS CARRIER OPERATED OUT OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA WITH FLEET AIR, WEST COAST, ENGAGED IN TRAINING AND QUALIFYING PILOTS FOR CARRIER OPERATIONS UNTIL THE END OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN IN AUGUST 1945. SAILED FOR HAWAII ON AUGUST 28, 1945 AS PART OF CARRIER TRANSPORT SQUADRON, PACIFIC. RETURNED SOME 1300 SERVICEMEN FROM HAWAII TO SAN DIEGO IN TWO TRIPS. ASSIGNED TO THE 'MAGIC CARPET' FLEET IN LATE SEPTEMBER 1945 WITH THE MISSION OF RETURNING VETERANS FROM THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER TO THE UNITED STATES. MADE TWO MORE TRIPS BETWEEN HAWAII AND SAN DIEGO AND ONE VOYAGE TO THE TOKYO BAY, JAPAN AREA TO REPATRIATE SERVICE PERSONNEL. ARRIVED AT SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA ON HIS FINAL VOYAGE ON JANUARY 2, 1946 AND THEN MOVED WITH HIS SHIP TO PUGET SOUND IN WASHINGTON STATE TO INACTIVATE USS TAKINAS BAY. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN APRIL 1946 WITH THE RANK OF ENSIGN AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.