Nice to hear that they were able to sail back. Must have been terrible to see a Kamikaze plane approaching! So did he get a new post on another ship, or did he go back home with the USS Belleau??
My Dad went back with the ship and was then assigned to a Navy beach master unit for the invasion of Okinawa. He went ashore there in the third wave and stayed in Okinawa. They were training for Operation Olympic(the invasion of Japan) when the war ended. He then was assigned to the staff of the Admiral in charge of Operation Crossroads(atomic bomb tests at Bikini Island) and saw both tests. He returned Stateside in 1946.
That's quite a story! Thanks for shaving it. I finished "The Making og the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes a while ago. Your father was actually part og that piece og history, as well as the Pacific War in general. Fascinating!
Yes I was. Hearing his "sea stories" is one of the reasons I read anything history related I could get my hands on. Also my reading habit was an influence on both my sons. The younger more than the older.
One thing I just remembered. When the Korean War broke out my father wanted to volunteer to go back in the Navy. He was told that they would be glad to have him back, but that because of his work on the Abomb tests he would not be allowed to go into the combat zone for fear of him possibly captured. My dad decided to stay home. Good thing too, cause he went to work for Bristol-Myers, met my mom and they got hitched in 1954. I was born a year later.
Thanks Doug. Jim did a fantastic job on it. And it's not just a pretty face! It lathers like a champ. Honored to have JJ#1 by @jimjo1031!
I'm in my basement staining my DIY humidor project(See "What Manly Things"...). So I took a picture of my Dad's "Plank Owner" Certificate to share with the class. The date is 31 March 1943. And here's his Shellback's Certificate for crossing the Equator. The date and Lat. & Long. were censored for obvious reasons.
Jimjo, that is very creative and excellent work! RetLEO, It is moving that you honor your Dad's service to the US in such a way. THANKS for the cool thread, guys. I really enjoyed following this. My Dad was a disabled Navy vet. He served in WWII & Korea. I still remember him talking about the hazing ritual he went through when he became a Shellback. Thanks for the memories.
Ah hazing! Getting the crap beat out of you by people who care about you. Doesn't get much better than that.
This week on the road I'll be shaving with this.... Here's a closer look.. Using a NEW rather than an OLD!
