Carlyle Staffon
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Carlyle Staffon joined the Navy in June 1943 and served in World War II in the Pacific Theater.
Mr. Staffon went to boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, and received signalman training.
He was assigned to the LST-472 and served in Noumea, New Caledonia, in Adelaide, Australia, and in Hollandia, New Guinea. He participated in the invasion of Mindanao, the Philippines, where his ship was attacked and sunk by two Japanese fighter planes. Mr. Staffon had survivor leave followed by a year in San Francisco on a Navy tugboat.
Mr. Staffon’s was discharged on November 16, 1947. His rank was Signalman 1st Class.
He received medals for combat in the Pacific Theater.
Mr. Staffon was born in 1925 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Archie and LaVonne Staffon. He graduated from high school in 1943.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“Joined Navy June 1943. Departed November 16, 1947, boot training and signalman training, Farragut, Idaho, then to Treasure Island, California. Thence to Noumea, New Caledonia, in the Pacific, thence to Adelaide, Australia. Assigned to a naval Signal Corps next to Hollandia in New Guinea. Thence to an invasion of Mindanao, the Philippine Islands, ending in the sinking of my ship by two Japanese fighter planes. Thence, following survivor leave, a year in San Francisco in Navy tug.”
