World War II Honoree

William E. Eutsler

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Rockingham, North Carolina

Honored By

William E. Eutsler, Jr.

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY IN JANUARY, 1942 WHILE A TEACHER AND COACH IN ROCKINGHAM, NORTH CAROLINA AND REPORTED FOR DUTY IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA AS A CHIEF BOATSWAIN'S MATE AND ATHLETIC SPECIALIST. HE WAS THEN SENT TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FOR BASIC TRAINING, AFTER WHICH HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SECOND USS BURNS DD-588. IT WAS LAUNCHED IN AUGUST, 1942 BY THE CHARLESTON NAVAL YARD. THE USS BURNS ARRIVED AT PEARL HARBOR IN SEPTEMBER, 1943 AND JOINED TASK FORCE #52 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ADMIRAL F. HALSEY. HE SERVED AS AN AIRCRAFT GUNNERY OFFICER FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. HE WAS PROMOTED TO ENSIGN AND TRANSFERRED TO A LST IN HONOLULU, HAWAII. HE WAS THEN SENT TO OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. AFTER AN ASSIGNMENT TO AN ARMY TRAINING REGIMENT IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE IN THE FALL OF 1945.