A. J. Charbonneau
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
A. J. Charbonneau served in World War II and in the Korean War. He served in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force.
Mr. Charbonneau joined the Navy on December 10, 1942. He was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), 3rd Fleet Flag Allowance. He was sent to the Pacific Theater and saw combat in 1943. He was discharged on October 7, 1946.
Mr. Charbonneau joined the U.S. Air Force on August 7, 1952, and he served during the Korean War. He was discharged in 1955.
He received the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with twelve Battle Stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with two Stars.
Mr. Charbonneau was born in 1925 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the son of William Charbonneau and Phil Hamlin.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“December 10, 1942, I joined the Navy. I was seventeen years, two months, and three days old. I was sent to Idaho for boot camp for three months. I got a ten-day leave after boot camp. After the leave, I was sent to Washington State and assigned to the aircraft carrier Enterprise. My Enterprise was the CV-6 and not the Enterprise in today’s Navy.
“I saw my first combat in late 1943. 1944 was spent moving westward across the Pacific. I was awarded four combat ribbons. On the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon, I have twelve battle stars and on the Philippine Liberation ribbon I have two stars.
“I am always surprised when people say what we did was great, because we had no choice: We had to do what we did.”
