World War II Honoree

Norman Richard Heisner

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Eddystone, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Carol Heisner Seiverd

Relationship

Daughter

He enlisted in the US Navy immediately following his graduation from high school on June 11th, 1943 and after spending time in Machinist school in St. Paul, Minnesota he was eventually assigned to the destroyer USS Dewey in the third Fleet in the Pacific Theater for the majority of his service. While serving on the Dewey he survived the typhoon of December 18th, 1944 during which the ship rolled 80 plus degrees but miraculously righted itself. Following this terrible storm which resulted in the loss of three other destroyers as well as 790 officers and men, the crew of the Dewey became known as the "80 Degree Rollers". Following the signing of the Treaty on the USS Missouri, he was assigned to this ship for his remaining 6 months of service as it embarked on a "good will tour around the world" which included the task of returning the body of the Turkish Ambassador home to Turkey. During his time in the service during WWII, he was awarded the Pacific Theater Ribbon (8 stars), the American Theater Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on May 19th, 1946.