World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Edwin Frank 'Eddy' Duchin
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Honored By
A Fan
A popular pianist and bandleader, he enlisted in 1942, requesting combat duty. Because he could hear perfect pitch, he was trained in the use of submarine-detecting devices. Served on patrol boats. Served as a Sound Officer for Destroyer Escorts taking part in D-Day operations off Normandy in 1944. Served in Third Fleet Pacific operations, including Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions. Operations Officer for a destroyer squadron. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander (04) in 1945. Decorations include: Navy Commendation ribbon with Combat 'V', Combat Action ribbon, American Area Campaign medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign medal, and WWII Victory medal.