World War II Honoree

Donovan Jordan Willis

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Travelors Rest, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

HE ENTERED INTO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE U.S. NAVY IN 1942. AFTER TRAINING IN SEAMANSHIP, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO DUTY ON DESTROYERS WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTING CONVOYS OF MERCHANT SHIPS CARRYING SUPPLIES TO ENGLAND AND EUROPE. ON 24 FEBRUARY 1944, HE SAILED OUT OF BOSTON AS SKIPPER OF A DESTROYER FOR DELIVERY UNDER THE LEND-LEASE PROGRAM TO ALLIED FORCES IN GREAT BRITAIN, RETURNING TO NEW YORK ABOARD THE CARGO SHIP ROBIN GRAY WITH HIS CREW OF A WARRANT OFFICER AND 22 SEAMEN. ON 29 DECEMBER 1944 AS SKIPPER OF ANOTHER LEND-LEASE DESTROYER, HE SAILED FROM BROOKLYN FOR ENGLAND, RETURNING TO NEW YORK 19 MARCH 1945 ABOARD THE TROOP SHIP RICHARD BASSETT. HE DELIVERED ONE MORE DESTROYER TO THE ALLIES, RETURNING VIA LE HAVRE TO NEW YORK ON 3 JUNE 1945. HE WAS RELIEVED FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN 1946 AS A LIEUTENANT.