World War II Honoree

Jonas Elijah Beachy

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Corfu, New York

Honored By

Eric Beachy

Relationship

Great-Nephew

HE ENTERED SERVICE IN THE NAVY IN 1941. HE TRAINED AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING CENTER. HE THEN SERVED IN THE ATLANTIC, TRAVELING IN A CONVOY TO AFRICA. DURING THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF HE SERVED ON THE DESTROYER USS SPENCE IN THE PACIFIC. HE VOLUNTEERED AS SHIP’S BARBER WHEN THE WANT AD WAS POSTED. THE SPENCE CAME INTO PORT FOR REPAIRS AND HE CAME HOME ON LEAVE IN AUGUST 1944. FOUR MONTHS LATER THE USS SPENCE WAS CAPSIZED AND SUNK DURING TYPHOON COBRA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AND HE WAS REPORTED MISSING. THE DATE OF HIS DEATH WAS DECEMBER 18, 1944. HE HAD BEEN IN SERVICE THREE YEARS.