John C. Norks
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
John C. Norks served in World War II in the Pacific Theater.
He joined the U.S. Navy on January 24, 1941. He trained at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois. Mr. Norks’ first duty station was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He arrived there just a few days after the Japanese attack. He was assigned to the USS Ballard (AVD-10). His ship attacked a Japanese submarine with depth charges. The Ballard was then sent to Fiji and was based in Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides islands.
The USS Ballard escorted PT [patrol torpedo] boats to Midway Island. They patrolled off the French Frigate Shoals atoll. The Ballard captured thirty-six Japanese sailors from the aircraft carrier Hiryu, then returned to Midway. The ship took part in a rescue mission to search for survivors from the USS Juneau, which was attacked and sunk by the Japanese, and which included the Sullivan brothers. They found two survivors and had to contend with five sharks.
The Ballard was then stationed at the Santa Cruz islands, where it had a surface duel with a Japanese submarine. The Americans lost their motor launch.
The ship then went to Okinawa and landed tanks at Leyte. Next it went to Ie Shima (now Iejima, Okinawa Prefecture), where journalist Ernie Pyle was killed, and shot down a Japanese plane.
Mr. Norks was discharged on October 27, 1945, and boarded the USS LST-888 to return home.
His rank was Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class. He participated in refueling of PBYs, a type of Naval aircraft.
Mr. Norks was decorated with the:
WWII Victory Ribbon,
Philippine Liberation Medal,
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Silver Star,
American Defense Medal with one Bronze Star.
He was also presented with the “Domain of Neptunus Rex” document for crossing the Equator while in the Navy.
Mr. Norks was born in Melrose Park, Illinois, in 1924, the son of William and Minnie Norks.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“I had three years, eight battle stars, and enough so I was discharged with USS 888. Returned to civilization.”
