World War II Honoree

Richard Coke Mann, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Wichita Falls, Texas

Honored By

G. H. King

ENLISTED SEPTEMBER, 1942 IN COAST GUARD AT WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS AT 18 YEARS OF AGE. CHOSE COAST GUARD AFTER HAVING READ OF COAST GUARD PATROL IN NEW JERSEY CAPTURING GERMAN SABOTEURS FROM A GERMAN SUBMARINE. COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AT COAST GUARD STATION IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. IN DECEMBER ASSIGNED TO ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK. STOOD GUARD AT STATUE OF LIBERTY. ASSIGNED TO SUB CHASER (PATROL BOAT) 83476 WHICH WAS BASED AT STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK AND ENGAGED IN CRUISES TRAINING SUB CHASER OFFICERS AT THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY, NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT. IN MARCH, 1943 ASSIGNED TO COAST GUARD MOUNTED MARINES IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA. PATROLLED FLORIDA BEACHES ON MULE NAMED 'LIGHTNING' FOR ALMOST A YEAR. IN SEPTEMBER, 1944, ASSIGNED TO ATLANTIC FLEET PATROL FRIGATE GULFPORT PF-20 PERFORMING ESCORT AND ANTI-SUBMARINE PATROL FOR CONVOYS TO NORTH AFRICA, GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE. ONE CONVOY HAD OVER 1000 SHIPS. ESCORTED MORE THAN A DOZEN CONVOYS. ENGAGED GERMAN SUBMARINES ON NUMEROUS OCCASION. HIS FLOTILLA NEVER LOST A SHIP. REMAINED ON PF-20 AFTER WAR IN EUROPE ENDED. SHIP WAS CONVERTED TO WEATHER SHIP AND SAILED THROUGH PANAMA CANAL TO BASE AT ADAK, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS WHERE IT PERFORMED WEATHER OBSERVATIONS IN THE BERING SEA. RECEIVED EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN RIBBON WITH TWO STARS AND PACIFIC RIBBON. DISCHARGED MARCH, 1946 AS SEAMAN FIRST CLASS AT NEW ORLEANS COAST GUARD STATION.