Don’t let your heirlooms & keepsakes become just another flea market item!
George William Henderson
2/4/1912 – 10/15/2008
Branch: Navy
Rank: Carpenter 1st Class
Unit: USS Mattaponi
Service Dates: 1942 – 1945
County: Pettis
City: Sedalia, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Atlantic and Mediterranean Theaters, Casablanca
Story uploaded: Friday, September 28, 2007 / Updated: Monday, September 4, 2023
John Jerrold Banion
10/14/1932 – 9/3/2009
Branch: Navy
Rank: TM3C SS
Service Dates: 1951 – 1955
County: Pettis
City: Sedalia, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: Korea, Submarine USS Blackfin
Story uploaded: Friday, September 28, 2007 / Updated: Friday August 18th, 2023
Jesse E. Ballew Sr.
8/7/1926 – 8/24/2015
Branch: Navy
Rank: Seaman 1st Class
Unit: USS Wilkes Barre
Service Dates: 1943 – 1947
County: Lafayette
City: Lake Lafayette, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Forward Assault of Okinawa and Japan, Diverted Japan during the invasion of Iwo Jima, Helped rescue the USS Bunker Hill, Present for the Japanese Surrender Ceremony & Occupation Of Japan
Story uploaded: Thursday, October 4, 2007 / Updated: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
USS Wilkes Barre
Transfer of wounded from USS Bunker Hill
Robert R. “Bob” Cosgrove
1/12/1925 – 12/13/2013
Branch: Navy
Rank: Lt. Commander
Unit: various ships
Service Dates: 1943 – 1967
Veteran Station: Franklin
County: Franklin
Enlisted
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Pacific, Inchon Invasion, Wonsong River Patrol Force
Story uploaded: Thursday, June 14, 2007 / Updated: Thursday June 22nd, 2023
Urban E. Wussler
07/10/1921 – 09/01/2016
Branch: Navy
Rank: Lt.
Service Dates: 1943 – 1946
Veteran Station: Pelelliu, Okinawa
County: Boone
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Courier For Top Secret Communication
Story uploaded: Saturday, June 30, 2007/Modified: Wednesday March 1, 2023
Euphemia Zahringer
4/23/1923 – TBD
Branch: Navy
Rank: First Class Petty Officer
Outfit: Waves
Service Dates: 1943 – 1945
County: Pettis
City: Sedalia, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: Radio Navigation and Instrument Instructor in World War II
Story uploaded: Saturday, December 8, 2007/modified: Monday, February 6th, 2023
Harold B. O’Connor
5/4/1921 – 7/7/2010
Branch: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Service Dates: 1941 – 1967
Veteran Station: Pearl Harbor, Battle of Midway, Guadalcanal, Okinawa
County: Pettis
City: Sedalia, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: WWII, Korea, Vietnam
Story uploaded: Saturday, September 29, 2007/modified: Monday, December 5, 2022
Dallas McKindley Bridges
11/1/1924 – 10/10/2010
Branch: Navy
Rank: MM3 Machinist Mate 3rd Class
Service Dates: – 1946
Veteran Station: USS Midway & USS Tuscaloosa
County: Davidson
City: Nashville, TN
Enlisted
Conflicts/Significant Events: WWII
Story uploaded: October 15, 2010/modified: November 18, 2022
Robert Lewis “Bob” Ballard
11/3/1924 – 11/10/2020
Branch: Navy
Rank: ETM 3rd Class
Unit: Electronics Technicians Mate
Service Dates: 1944 – 1946
County: St. Louis City
City: St. Louis, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II Stationed on the USS Cero & The USS Balao
Story uploaded/modified: Sunday, December 7, 2008/Monday April 25th, 2022
Bob volunteered in the United States Navy where he was active duty from 1944 to 1946. There he studied electronics and graduated from the U.S. Navy’s submarine school with the rank of ETM3c (Electronic Technician’s Mate) in January, 1946. He schooled at NTC Great Lakes, IL; NTSCH Michigan City, IN; NTC (EE& RM) Gulfport, MS; NTSCH Navy Pier Chicago, IL, and PSC Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While at Great Lakes Naval Training Station Robert volunteered for the drum and bugle corps. Robert’s first assignment was the submarine USS Cero, a Gato-class submarine in drydock for overhaul at New London, CT, and then on the USS Balao, the lead ship of the Balao-class of submarines based out of Portsmouth, NH. On the USS Balao, Robert worked in communications (the wireless room), which included the ship’s radar. In his free time aboard ship, Robert took correspondence courses through the United States Armed Forces Institute. The USS Balao patrolled the Atlantic looking for Japanese subs until the cessation of war with the surrender of Japan in August of 1945. On June 15, 1946 Robert was honorably discharged at the U.S.N. Personnel Separation Center in Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. (Incidentally, the USS Balao later enjoyed stardom in 1959 when it was featured as the pink-painted submarine in the Cary Grant comedy Operation Petticoat while based out of Key West. It returned to full service until it was later decommissioned in 1963). In June, 1946, Robert re-enlisted with the Navy, (inactive status) and was honorably discharged a second time on June 15, 1950 at Hdqtrs 1ND, Boston, Massachusetts. Robert was the recipient of the American Theatre Medal and the Victory Medal for his active service.
Willis W.Corbett
1926 – N/A
Branch: Navy
Service Dates:Enlisted 1943 – 1946
Conflicts/Significant Events: WWII, transported to the Philippines and the South Pacific Islands on The Queen Mary
Story uploaded/modified: Was an original pilot interview for the our project in 2006
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