Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Cartonsville, Maryland
Honored By
PLD
ENLISTED IN 1940. WORKING IN NAVAL INTELLIGENCE AT NAVAL AIR STATION NORFOLK DURING THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK AND WENT TO SEA SOON AFTER. BY 1943 HAD RISEN TO THE RANK OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICER-THE HIGHEST RANK AVAILABLE TO AN ENLISTED MAN AT THE TIME. SERVED ON TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, THE USS BUNKER AND THE USS WASP, AND WAS NEARLY KILLED ON MARCH 19, 1945 WHEN THE WASP WAS BOMBED IN THE PACIFIC.