World War II Honoree

Suttie 'Sunny' Economy

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Roanoke, Virginia

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

He was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1944 and served on the USS English (DDS-696) and was a plank owner. The USS English was part of the 3rd and 5th Fleet and he served in the ammunition and supply room. The USS English's job was to protect larger vessels like aircraft carriers and to pick up downed airmen. He spent most of his time in the Pacific Theater of Operations, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and in the Philippine Islands. In May of 1945, during the Okinawa Campaign the crew aboard the USS English helped rescue many men. They escorted the heavily damaged USS Franklin and the USS Bunker Hill after the aircraft was hit by kamikaze attacks. They were the first ship in Tokyo Bay at the end of the war. He visited the ruins of Nagasaki after the atomic bombs had been dropped. He was discharged on February 19, 1946.