Walter Wayne Parker was born to John and Bertha Parker
November 23, 1922, near Big Sandy, Tennessee.
He was drafted into the U.S. Navy February 23, 1943,
and went through boot camp at Bainbridge, Maryland. From
there he was sent to radio school at Auburn, Alabama. After
16 weeks of radio school, he was given an RM 3/C rating and
sent to the naval armory in Los Angeles, California, for
six more weeks of training to earn signaling and merchant
marine procedures. He was then sent to San Francisco,
California, to the Treasure Island Armed Guard Center.
He was assigned to the AG crew of the SS J WARREN
KIEFFER in November 1943. After stops at Auckland, New
Zealand, New Hebrides and picking up a load of nitrate in
Chile, the ship docked at Mobile, Alabama, in March 1944.
He was then detached and sent to the Armed Guard Center at
New Orleans, Louisiana. From there he was sent to the crew
of the SS JOSEPH LEIDY at Charleston, South Carolina.
The LEIDY joined a convoy at Norfolk, Virginia, and
sailed to Dran, Algiers. The LEIDY returned to New York
June 9, 1944. He was then detached and sent to Armed Guard
Center Brooklyn, New York. From there he was sent to
California and eventually wound up in the Flag of Commander
Service Squadron 10 Rep. C at Saipan in August 1944. He
remained in Saipan until the war was over. After going on
to Wakayama, Japan, he returned to the States and was
discharged from the Navy at Nashville, Tennessee,
December 12, 1945.
He married Clarice Leola Hicks of East Prairie, Missouri,
June 8, 1946. They have two daughters, Patricia Gale and
Nancy Lynn.
Prior to his retirement on June 1, 1985, he was
employed as a boiler operator by the Tennessee Valley
Authority. He now resides at Route 1, Camden, Tennessee
38320.
DON CALVIN PARKS
Don Calvin Parks was born in Webster, Pennsylvania,
June 11, 1924. He joined the U.S. Navy May 29, 1943, and
went to Great Lakes (Company #746) for boot training. He
then went on to gunnery school at Gulfport, Mississippi,
fired guns on the USS DOVER and USS LASH (gun boats from
World War I) in the Gulf of Mexico.
Boarded a troop train and went to Armed Guard Center,
Treasure Island, California. Sent to San Pedro, California,
and got on his first ship at Terminal Island, the SS
MAGNOLIA (tanker) October 1943.
Carried gasoline for the invasion of the New Britain
Island. Sailed the North and South Pacific and Indian
Oceans. Came through the Panama Canal to Aruba, then
returned to the united States at New York, New York.
Then assigned to Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, New
York. Sent to rest camp for two weeks at Haverstraw, New
York. In July 1944, assigned to Liberty ship SS MARY
PICKERSGILL. While running in convoy made trips to England,
Scotland, Wales, and France from New York and Philadelphia
until March 1945. Then assigned to Liberty ship SS FRANK
WIGGINS. This trip took him again through the Panama Canal
on his way to Manila in the Philippines.
While there the war with Japan ended. After arriving
back at San Francisco was sent to Treasure Island Armed
Guard Center and then to Camp Shoemaker. Boarded a train
for Philadelphia Navy Yard. Then on to Samson, New York,
and was honorably discharged as a coxswain on February 16,
1946.
In his travels he crossed the International Date Line four
times, and the Equator six times. On his first ship he ate
breakfast in the Pacific and supper in the Atlantic, and on
his last ship he ate breakfast in the Atlantic and supper in
the Pacific.
The countries he saw while serving in the Armed Guard
include: Iran, Australia, New Guinea, Panama, Aruba, Scotland,
England, Wales, France, Manus, Philippines, and Leyte.
Now retired Don and his wife Alberta live at RD # 1,
Box 48A, Charleroi, Pennsylvania 15022.
ALEX J. PASIERB
Alex J. Pasierb was born to Anthony and Anna Pasierb
July 8, 1925, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the
U.S. Navy September 24, 1943, and trained at Great Lakes,
Illinois. From Great Lakes, he was sent to Armed Guard
gunnery school, Gulfport, Mississippi.
Alex was sent to the Armed Guard Center, New Orleans,
Louisiana, for assignment, and was shipped to Jacksonville,
Florida, where he was assigned as a gunner on the SS JAMES
L. ACKERSON. The ACKERSON joined a convoy in New York and
went to Glasgow, Scotland, with military supplies. In
Glasgow, the ship was converted to a troop transport.
From Glasgow the ship sailed to Southhampton, England,
where the 29th Army Infantry Division was loaded for
participation in the D-Day invasion . The invasion convoy
was attacked by German "E" boats, submarines and ME-109
German planes. One Liberty ship was torpedoed and abandoned.
On arrival at Omaha Beach, gunfire from the French coast
was so heavy that the ship could not unload troops and
equipment. For three days, the ship was under constant attack
by German planes. It later had to go to Utah Beach to unload.
Five additional shuttle trips between Ireland, England, and
the French Coast were made.
The JAMES L. ACKERSON was in Southhampton, England, when
V2 robot bombs were dropped on England. Alex was then assigned
to the Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, New York, where he boarded
the SS WINFRED L. SMITH and went to Murmansk, Russia. The convoy
was attacked by German planes off the Norwegian coast.
Alex's other assignments included the WINFRED L. SMITH, SS
CHARLES W. PEALE, SS FRENCH CREEK, duty at the O/CS at SHELTON,
Virginia, SS OACHITA VICTORY, SS ORSON D MUNN, SS GRETNA VICTORY,
SS BENJAMIN WARNER, which took a shipload of beer to Manila,
Philippines, and duty at RS PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, and PSC
LIDO BEACH, Long Island, New York.
Alex served in the European, African, Middle Eastern and
Asiatic Pacific areas. He was discharged March 25, 1946, and
received a battle star for the D-Day invasion.
Alex is a graduate of St. Francis College, Loretto,
Pennsylvania, and took graduate studies at the University of
Pittsburgh. He was the athletic director at United High School,
Armagh, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret B. Martinek on
August 16, 1951, and has four children: Michael, Jane, George
and Alice.
On March 16, 1989, Alex was chosen as Outstanding Athletic
Director 1989 for the State of Pennsylvania, which consists of
501 school districts.
Alex now lives at 521 Jean Avenue, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
15906.
MACK HAGEN PAYNTER, JR.
Mack Hagen Paynter, Jr., was born May 2, 1925, in
Wheeling, West Virginia, to Mack and Hazel Paynter, Sr.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy July 9, 1943 in Clarksburg,
West Virginia, and attended boot camp at Great Lakes,
Illinois, where he was a member of Company #1085 and a
Company Commander C.sp. P.E. Freed. He also was assigned to
Camp Shelton, Virginia, for gunnery school; the Armed Guard
Center in Brooklyn, New York; and Edinburgh, Scotland, for
gunnery school, specializing in Fortwin Lewis guns, and
first aid school.
Mack sailed aboard the SS WILLIAM A. JONES and took his
first trip south through Torpedo Junction to Cuba. The ship
was loaded with sugar and on the way back to New York, the
deck was loaded with tanks and trucks. On a voyage to England,
the ship broke down and had to leave the convoy. The crew
spent 27 hours in general quarters. The ship shuttled
between England and the States until the middle of May 1944.
The ship was anchored in Firth-of-Forth, Scotland, for three
weeks and later transported elements of the Canadian Army to
the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944. The ship made two
shuttle trips to Normandy, the last one into Cherbourg harbor.
Mack completed his duty on the ship on September 9, 1944.
He then went on leave and returned to the Armed Guard
Center in Brooklyn, New York. After being assigned to a gun
crew and shipped to the West Coast and back, he was assigned
to the SS BENJAMIN HUNTINGTON, based out of Baltimore, Maryland.
The ship made trips to England, Scotland, Wales, the Mediterra-
nean Sea, North Africa, Bizerte, Iran, Lybia, Sicily, Italy,
France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It picked up German war
prisoners to bring back to the States, but was rammed by a
tanker and had to go to a shipyard in Cardiff, Wales, for
repairs.
After returning to Brooklyn~ New York, Mack was detached
to the U.S. Navy Hospital in St. Albans, New York, August 12,
1945. He was later discharged from the service at the same
hospital October 10, 1945. He received the C.B.I. European-African
Roakcluster Award and attained the rank of seaman 1/C.
He was a charter bus driver for 20 years until he retired.
He also was a dental lab technician and a silk screen operator.
His wife, Belva I. (Hubbs) Paynter, and he have three sons,
George E., who made two tours in Vietnam with the CBs in the
U.S. Navy and Larry A. and Mack H. III, and a daughter, Janet
Marie. His current address is 2371 East 41st, Lorain, Ohio
44055-2838.
JOHN F. PEARCE
The crew of the SS JOHN FINCH was in Behai, Brazil,
August 20, 1943, after completing over a three-quarter trip
circling the globe.
John F. Pearce was aboard the FITCH and relates the
journey as follows:
They started in New York on March 4, 1943, arriving in
Cuba on March 11, and in Panama March 12. On March 17, they
headed for Fremantle, Australia, arriving April 26. From there
on May 2, their destination was Kherranshahr, Iran, arriving
June 1, and they unloaded Russian supplies. On June 30, they
left for the Bahrien Islands in the Persian Gulf to refuel.
On July 4, they left for Behia, Brazil, with an arrival on
August 14, and on August 24, to Dutch Guinea. On September 3,
they arrived to load bauxite and left September 6 for Trinidad
to refuel. On September 10, the ship sailed to New York through
the windward passage, completing the circle on September 16.
John left the ship in New York for home.
The crew members aboard the SS JOHN FITCH for the trip were:
Lt. E.L. Barker, New Hampshire; BM1 H.M. Morgan, Arkansas; CMB
W. Ayers, Kansas; S1/c D. Dartez, Louisiana; T.H. Deahl,
Pennsylvania; R.H. Desch, Pennsylvania; S.O. Grobe, Kansas;
Hayward, New York; H.E. Lewis, Ohio; L. Lucia, Connecticut; J.L.
Neaves, Massachusetts; D.C. Noyes, New Hampshire; A.M. Paradis,
Maine; R.M. Parent, Massachusetts; L. Payeur, New Hampshire;
J.F. Pearce, Massachusetts; J. Pelak, New Jersey; S. Pecor, New
York; F. Perry, Massachusetts; T. Perko, Connecticut;
Reichenberg, Connecticut; J.T. Reilly, New York; Sternowski,
New Jersey.
WILLIAM J. PERDUE
William J. Perdue, a native of Huntington, West Virginia,
enlisted in the U.S. Navy September 13, 1941. He went to recruit
training in Norfolk, Virginia, and the went to the Armed Guard
Center in Little Creek, Virginia, where he was assigned to gun
crew #27.
He served on the MS ISLAND MALL, the SS WILLIAM WHIPPLE, the
SS HAYM SALOMON, the SS EDWARD RICHARDSON, the SS GEORGE G MEADE,
the USS SC 714, and the USS LST 391.
He was discharged in May 1947, attaining gunners mate 2/C.
He is a retired commercial pilot and currently resides at #217
La Casa, Lake Whales, Florida 33853.
CLIFTON N. PERKINS
Harry H. Perkins and Nora Lee (Thompson) were the parents
of Clifton N. "Perk" Perkins, born in Lorado, West Virginia,
April 5, 1922. Perk moved to Ashland, Kentucky, at the age of
three, attended school in Westwood, Kentucky, and Ashland High
in Ashland, Kentucky.
He joined the U.S. Navy October 30, 1941, and took basic
training at Great Lakes Training Center. Although he was
scheduled to take leave December 6, the whole class in OGU was
held until Sunday morning when they heard about the attack on
Pearl Harbor. The class then was sent to San Diego where Perk
received Armed Guard training on the CRANE and was later
assigned to the Armed Guard Center at Treasure Island.
Perk sailed on the WEST CUSSETTA out of Bremerton,
Washington, from January 21, 1942, until September 1, 1942.
The ship had two 30 caliber and two 50 caliber guns on the
bridge and a 4-inch 50 deck gun on the fantail. The ship
also had a "dummy" put on the bow in Wellington, New
Zealand, in hope that a submarine would try and take it out
first, giving the ship a few shots with its real guns.
During his tour of duty on the ship, Perk went to Sydney,
Melbourne, and Canberra. He says, "I had a darn good time."
Perk was later assigned to the SS MAUNAWILLI from
August 15, 1942, to November 2, 1942, and the S PHILLAE in
late 1942 and early 1943. On one of the ships, Perk and the
crew picked up a load of coffee between Panama and Central
America and took it back to San Francisco. In addition, one
of the ships had the first two women mess stewardesses. The
Russian merchant ships also had women on board.
He also sailed on the SS JAMES CALDWELL from May 5, 1943,
to December 30, 1943, and on the SS ALCOA MASTER from February
19, 1944, to December 30, 1945. He went to Liverpool and
Southampton, England, and saw the Persian Gulf up to Abadan and
Khorramshahr. He lost his wrist watch over the side in the
Tigres River. Other areas he visited were Salvador (Bahia)
and Recife, Brazil, Noumea, New Caledonia, the Fiji and
Samoan islands, and Guam and Tahiti.
After the Armed Guard, Perk served on the USS YOG 57,
the USS LSM 487, the USS BRONX APA 236 and the USS CHILTON
APA 38. He was then discharged and looked for civilian work.
When he couldn't find enough work, Perk tried to re-enlist with
the Navy but they were not taking any more men. As a result, he
joined the Air Force and finally retired September 30, 1964.
He retired from Republic Steel on April 30, 1984. Perk and
his wife Helen travel, play golf and go bowling. Although they
never had any children, they have lots of nieces and nephews.
His address is P.O. Box 6, Massillon, Ohio 44648.
WILLIAM J. PIRES
William J. Pires was born January 6, 1923, in New Bedford,
Massachusetts. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy December 14, 1942,
and attended boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and was then
assigned to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Ships he served on were the SS LOUIS MARSHALL, the SS PAN
MARYLAND, and a Trinidad BWI crash boat. He served in NAS at
BOCA CHICA, (Key West) Florida, as well.
William received the European North African, Good Conduct
with Star, Victory and American Campaign awards.
His most memorable experience was returning to the U.S.
with 999 German prisoners and one Arab spy in 1943 aboard a
Liberty ship, the SS LOUIS MARSHALL. He later took liberty in
Casablanca, Oran, Algiers, Naples and Bari.
During his civilian career, he served on the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers as a launch operator at Cape Cod Canal,
Cape Cod, for 19 years. He also was a construction inspector
for Rivers and Harbors in the New England Division of the Army
Corps of Engineers for six years. He retired as a LCDR for the
Coast Guard Reserves after 24 years.
He and his wife, Estelle, have four children and currently
reside at 51 Evelyn Street, N. Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747
for six months out of the year and spend the other half at 1121 B
Keystone Drive, North Jupiter, Florida.
LYLE B. PLUNKETT
Lyle B. Plunkett was born August 6, 1925, in Quincy, Illinois.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy August 1942 and completed boot camp
at Camp Dewey in Great Lakes, Illinois. After boot camp, he
attended gunnery school at Virginia Beach, Virginia.
After gunnery school, Lyle went aboard the Tanker SS
WILMINGTON, a new ship out of Chester, Pennsylvania, in November
1942. He went on shakedown runs up and down the East Coast. In
January 1943, he got a bad case of influenza and was sent to the
Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York, for a short time. In
January 1943, he was also assigned to the ship SS DANIEL HIESTER
and made the run to the Persian Gulf by way of the Panama Canal,
Western Australia, Perth, Freemantle, the Indian Ocean and the
Arabian Sea.
His next ship was the SS GEORGE HANDLEY, on which he made
several trips with troops and cargo to Europe and participated in the
invasion of Southern France on August 15, 1944, accumulating 39
months of sea duty.
His most memorable experience was in a large convoy off the
coast of South America. Four ships around his were hit with
torpedoes. Fortunately, his ship was unharmed.
Lyle was discharged December 19, 1945, as a seaman 1/C, and
married June Orr September 22, 1945. He reenlisted in the Army in
1948 and served in Europe. He later served one tour in Vietnam in
1963 at Socktrang. He earned the Air Medal flying as a door gunner in
H-21 and received the Atlantic Campaign, Pacific Campaign,
World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct.
He retired from the service on December 1, 1964, with a
combined service time of over 20 years. Lyle retired from the
Allstate Insurance Company on September 1, 1988, and currently
resides at 1106 Madera Court, Seaside, California 93955.
JOSEPH O. POISSON
Joseph O. Poisson was born August 29, 1924, in Marlborough,
New Hampshire. He joined the U.S. Navy October 9, 1942, and
took basic training at Newport, Rhode Island, and gunnery
training at Little Creek, Virginia.
He was assigned to the SS SANTA CRUZ, a type C1, from
December 29, 1942, to August 16, 1943. His next assignment
was on the SS INDIANA, a tanker, from September 15, 1943, to
January, 1944. On March 4, 1944, he was assigned on the USAT
BETTY JANE, an Army transport ship, which took him into the
invasion of Southern France, fnr which he was awarded a
bronze medal.
From June 1945 to November 10, 1945, he was aboard the
Liberty ship SS OTIS SKINNER. On January 6, 1946, he was
discharged in Boston, Massachusetts.
On February 12, 1946, he married his wife of 43 years,
the former Anna McKernon. They have two sons. Joe was a
self-employed barber for 42 years and retired in 1987.
Joe would like to hear from any of his old shipmates.
His current address is 15 Needle Street, Kenne, New
Hampshire 03431.
JOSEPH B. PRAGA
Joseph B. Praga was born April 28, 1915, in Albany, New
York. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy December 30, 1941. He went
to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and to gunnery school
at the San Diego Destroyer Base, California. In August 1944,
he had amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia.
He achieved the rank of boatswain's mate 1/C. In addition
to the Purple Heart Medal, Joe received the Navy Good Conduct
Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific
Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal
(with one Bronze Star), the United Nations Service Medal, and
the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
He had five brothers who served in the Armed Forces during
World War II.
His first ship was a "President Lines" ship troop carrier to
the Pacific. In 1942, he was assigned to the SS PAINE, which
sailed to the Pacific islands, Australia, Tasmania, Ceylon,
Bombay, Portuguese East Africa, Cape Town, Rio deJaneiro, Brazil
and New York. He then went to the Portland, Oregon, shipyard and
boarded the SS CHENG CHUNG. This ship, flying a Chinese Flag,
sailed to San Francisco and loaded ammo at Oakland. The ship
proceeded to various Pacific islands, then Sydney, Newcastle,
Wellington, New Zealand, Perth, Australia, Calcutta and India.
Heading west, the SS CHENG CHUNG was torpedoed and sunk on
February 3, 1944, at 11:30 p.m. While in the water, some of the
survivors were questioned by the submarine crew as follows:
"Answer or we will turn the machine guns on your buddies in the
water." The next day, the survivors were picked up by an English
Indian Ship, the SS MAHA DAVI, whose crew told the survivors,
"We will drop the cargo nets and make only one pass because of
submarines in the area." Joe set ashore at Arden, Arabia, and
next boarded an English prisoner of war ship carrying Italian
prisoners and sailed up the Red Sea to Port Said, Egypt. From
March to July 1944, he had temporary duty with the U.S. Navy
Replacement Pool at Port Said, Egypt. He also served aboard the
USS LSM 417 and was discharged in September 1945.
Joe was recalled to active duty in 1950 for the Korean
action and served aboard the USS THOMAS JEFFERSON APA 30 until
his discharge in 1951.
Joe returned to Albany and resumed work as a journeyman
ironworker and is a member of the International Association of
Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Ironworkers, Local # 12.
He is married to Adria and has three daughters: Judith,
Sandy and Lyn, and has five grandchildren. He lives at lB
Dorlyn Road, Albany, New York 12205.
FRANK J. PRESNAL
Frank J. Presnal was born May 16, 1921, and is from Adams,
Massachusetts. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy May 13, 1942, and
re-enlisted October 25, 1948. He attended boot camp in Newport,
Rhode Island, and gunnery school in Little Creek, Virginia. He
then was assigned to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Frank sailed aboard the SS MORMAC MOON. He got sick on board
while anchored in Suez Bay, Egypt, and transferred to sickbay in
the desert with Shiga dysentary. After spending one month in sick
bay and losing 30 pounds, he transferred to the SS GEORGE VAN
COUVER, a West Coast Liberty ship. Later, he served on the SS
CAPULIN, the SS JOHN W. GARRETT and the PAUL H. HARWOOD.
After being discharged November 23, 1945, he re-enlisted
October 25, 1948. He sailed aboard the USS OKANOGAN APA-220,
the USS COMSTOCK LSD-19 and the USS TELFAIR APA-210. He then
spent three years on shore duty in Sasebo, Japan. He later
served aboard the USS UVALDE AKA-88 and USS VESUVIUS AE-15.
When he was in Naples, Italy, he saw Mount Vesuvius. Frank
later spent two years on shore duty at the NAAS in Kingsville,
Texas. He also sailed aboard the USS IWO JIMA (LPH-2), the
first amphibious helicopter carrier built from keel up.
He returned to civilian life after discharge from the
Navy for a second time May 19, 1964. He spent 10 years in the
Naval Reserve, bringing his total service time to 30 years.
Frank was present at a submarine and torpedo bomber
attack off the coast of Murmansk, Russia, in January 1945. He
saw one British cruiser get blown up and five merchant ships
damaged. His most memorable experience was seeing a torpedo
heading straight for his ship. Fortunately, a large wave
altered the torpedo's course and prevented it from hitting
the ship.
Attaining the rank of GM3, Frank received the Good Conduct
Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern
Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal
with two Bronze Stars, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia),
China Service Medal (extended), National Defense Service Medal
with one Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Star
and one Silver Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one
Bronze Star (Cuba and Vietnam), United Nations Service Medal,
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and Republic of
Vietnam Campaign Medal -- device 1960.
Frank is married to Adella. He retired from the Boston and
Maine Railroad in 1983. His current address is 11 Grove Street,
Adams, Massachusetts 01220.
JOHN A. PREZIOSI
John A. Preziosi was born in Atripalda, Italy, on January 6,
1922. He came to the United States in 1929, when he was seven
years old, and settled in Dover, New Jersey. He enlisted in the
U.S. Navy in August 1942.
He took his boot training at Newport, Rhode Island, and after
three weeks was assigned to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn,
New York.
John shipped out on the ZEBULON B. VANCE to the Persian Gulf.
He was also assigned to the STEPHEN T. FOSTER, the MATHER, the
BULKOIL and three other ships.
In between ships, he attended gunnery school at Shelton,
Virginia. He attained the rank of GM 2/C. In September 1945 he
received an honorable discharge.
He married Virginia Horn on July 17, 1949. They have three
children: Sue, John Jr., and James.
John retired from the United States Postal Service in
December 1978 and resides at 15 Roxbury Drive, Kenvil, New
Jersey 07847.
ERNEST A. PRICE, JR.
Ernest A. Price, Jr. was born January 15, 1926, in Cleveland,
Ohio. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy June 19, 1942, at the age of
16. He completed boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, August 10,
1942, and was later assigned to Navy Special Forces (Armed Guard),
seaman gunner on the SS RICHARD D. SPAIGHT. September 2, 1942.
He survived the sinking of the SS SPAIGHT on March 10, 1943,
by two torpedoes forward on the starboard side, and approximately
12 to 15 rounds of deck gun shell fire from the German submarine
U-182. Ernest's 3-inch 50 bow gun was manned and trained to
starboard, however, his forward gun crew was unable to return fire,
due to the rapid sinking of the ship. All of his gun crew were
pulled under water and came up moments later with the aid of their
life jackets. This combat action took place 350 miles northeast of
Durban, South Africa (28-00 South/37-00 East) in the Indian Ocean.
As a result of the combat action, seaman 1/C Price received wounds
to the face and head. One crew member was killed in the action.
Ernest's life boat was captured by the German submarine, the crew
questioned at gun point and Price was held prisoner of war for
approximately one hour, and released.
On March 14, 1943, Ernest's life boat landed on the beach near
St. Lucia lighthouse, South Africa. He continued sailing with the
Armed Guard until the end of World War II, August 14, 1945. He
then was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet and sailed to the South
Pole aboard Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd's flagship the USS MOUNT
OLYMPUS (AGC-8), 1946-1947.
Ernest left the Navy in July 1948, and in October 1948
enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the tenth U.S. Corps
Ordnance Section during the Korean War, and served two years with
the Army Aviation Branch, retiring as a Sergeant at Fort Ord,
California, June 1, 1963, with 20-years combined military service.
He later served as a civilian military advisor for the
Department of the Army in Pleiku, South Vietnam from June 1967 to
November 1967. He currently is Commander, Military Order of the
Purple Heart of the U.S.A., 1990-1991, Chapter 379, Inland Empire,
California. He is married to Barbara A. Price and they have two
daughters, Denise and Theresa. Now fully retired, Price lives at
9540 Charter Oak Lane, Riverside, California 92503-6230.