Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Montgomery, Alabama
Honored By
Pearl Thomas
He was a 1941 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Before receiving his flight school orders he survived two torpedo attacks from Japanese submarines while aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga. After receiving his wings, he flew the Hellcat and the Vought F4U Corsair and was a gunnery officer in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He commanded the USS Shasta and the USS Lexington and saw combat duty at Guadalcanal.