ACTIVITY DURING WWII
ENLISTED ON 4 JULY 1942 AT
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. ASSIGNED TO THE USS ELLIS DD-154, A WICKES CLASS DESTROYER
ASSIGNED TO THE ATLANTIC FLEET ESCORT DUTY FROM MARCH, 1943 TO OCTOBER, 1943
ESCORTING THE TANKER ARUBA, TROOP TRANSPORT DERRY TO NORTH AFRICA. 24 NOVEMBER
1943 ASSIGNED TO THE COMMISSIONING CREW USS ALBERT W. GRANT DD-649, A FLETCHER
CLASS DESTROYER ASSIGNED TO THE ATLANTIC FLEET. 11 NOVEMBER 1944 ASSIGNED TO THE
USS WILLIAMS DE-372, A JOHN C. BUTLER CLASS DESTROYER ESCORT ASSIGNED TO THE
PACIFIC FLEET ESCORT DUTY. ARRIVED AT PEARL HARBOR ON 16 FEBRUARY 1945. PUSHED
ON TO THE NEW HEBRIDES, ESPIRITU SANTO, LUNG POINT, NOUMES, ULITHI, MANUS
ISLAND, ENIWETOK, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, HOLLANDIA, TINIAN AND OKINAWA. 29 NOVEMBER
WAS IN A SEVERE TROPICAL STORM WHEN A HUGE WAVE HIT THE STARBOARD SIDE ROLLING
THE WILLIAMS OVER 93 DEGREES, LOST POWER AND RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGE. DAMAGE
CONTROL PARTIES RESTORED THE SHIP TO FIGHTING EFFICIENCY. RATING OF
COXSWAIN.