World War II Honoree

Thomas LaGrande Groot

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Toledo, Ohio

Honored By

Thomas L. Groot

Relationship

Self

SERVED ON THE USS MCCALLA (DD-253). NEUTRALITY PATROL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, CARIBBEAN SEA AND ATLANTIC OCEAN. ONE OF A SKELETON CREW THAT SAILED HER TO HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA AND DECOMMISSIONED HER; THEN TURNED HER OVER TO THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY. SERVED ON THE USS REUBEN JAMES (DD-245). HAD THREE MONTHS TORPEDO SCHOOL AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. SERVED ON THE USS CALYPSO, THE PRESIDENTIAL ESCORT YACHT AT WASHINGTON, D.C. ESCORTED PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT'S YACHT, THE USS POTOMAC ON VARIOUS ATLANTIC OCEAN TRIPS; ONE OFF NEWFOUNDLAND THAT PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT MET WITH PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL ON THE BRITISH CRUISER PRINCE OF WALES FOR THE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE. SERVED ON THE USS CORRY (DD-463); SCREENING CONVOY SHIPPING IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN TO ENGLAND AND MURMANSK, RUSSIA. SINKING OF GERMAN SUBMARINE U-801 BY SHELL FIRE, RAIDED GERMAN RADAR STATION IN BODO, NORWAY, NORTH AFRICAN INVASION, AND NORMANDY INVASION. SURVIVOR OF USS CORRY (DD-463) SUNK ON D-DAY, UTAH BEACH JUNE 6, 1944. DEEP SEA DIVER SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SALVAGE DIVING SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY. DEEP SEA DIVER 1ST CLASS. INTERIM CAPTAIN ON A TUG RIGGED FOR DEEP SEA DIVING. AWARDED GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND ORDER OF THE PATRIOTIC WAR (SOVIET UNION).