World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Harold R. Hardesty
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Canton, Ohio
Honored By
Harold R. Hardesty
APRIL 14, 1942 NAVY ARMED GUARD, TRAINED AT GREAT LAKES BOOT CAMP. ARMED GUARD ON THE SS HARRY LUCKENBACK, MERCHANT SHIP. WENT FROM CHARLESTON, NORTH CAROLINA TO TRINIDAD, SOUTH AMERICA, TO CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA TO KARACHI, INDIA AND CALCUTTA, INDIA; COLOMBO, CEYLON TO CAPE TOWN, TO MAGELLAN STRAITS, SOUTH AMERICA; UP WEST COAST TO PANAMA CANAL, ATLANTIC OCEAN, TO NEW YORK HARBOR. NEXT SHIP S.O. CHARLESTON (MERCHANT TANKER) FROM NEW YORK TO ARUBA SOUTH AMERICA, BACK TO NEW YORK, TO MURMANSK, RUSSIA RUN, (SHIP DAMAGED DURING BAD SEAS) DIVERTED TO BELFAST, IRELAND FOR REPAIRS. TO IRAN NORTH AFRICA, THROUGH SUEZ CANAL TO ABADAN, IRAN, TO DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, BACK TO ABADAN IRAN, TO SUEZ CANAL, TORNADO, ITALY, BACK TO NEW YORK (END OF SECOND YEAR OF SERVICE). FLEW TO TRINIDAD AND PICKED UP PC-593 PATROL CRAFT, TO RECIFE, BRAZIL, HAD RIGHT LEG INJURY (LOOSE DEPTH CHARGE LANDED ON LEG) AND HOSPITALIZED FOR ONE MONTH. REJOINED BOAT AND RETURNED TO TRINIDAD, MIAMI, PANAMA CANAL, SAN DIEGO, HAWAII, TACLOBAN, PHILIPPINES AND SHANGHAI, CHINA. JOINED TROOP SHIP BACK TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON; TOLEDO, OHIO. DISCHARGED NOVEMBER 11, 1945 IN TOLEDO.