Richard John
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Richard John served in World War II.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on January 5, 1945. He attended basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and did sixteen weeks of advanced training in Signalman School. His unit was sent to Pearl Harbor and from there to Okinawa aboard the USS Admiralty Islands (CVE-99). His unit boarded the LST 1015 and were sent to Shanghai, China, where he served aboard the USS YMS-49. Mr. John then served aboard the USS Repose, a hospital ship. He was transferred to Oakland Naval Hospital and was transported there on the USS Samaritan hospital ship. He was transferred to Great Lakes Naval Hospital. Mr. John was discharged on March 8, 1947.
His rank was Seaman 2nd Class (Signalman).
He was decorated with the American Area Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Mr. John was born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1926, the son of William John and Myrtle E. Doyle. He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1944.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“Sworn in U.S. Navy at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, January 5, 1945. Thence to U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, for basic training plus sixteen weeks of Signalman School. Now, from Great Lakes to Pearl Harbor, then on to Okinawa. Then from Okinawa to Shanghai, China, for duty on YMS-49. The trip from Hawaii was aboard the USS Admiralty Islands. From Okinawa aboard USS LST 1015. Next is “yellow jaundice”—USS Repose hospital ship. Next, back to USA to Oakland Naval Hospital via USS Samaritan hospital ship. From Oakland Naval Hospital to Great Lakes Naval Hospital. Discharged from hospital and U.S. Navy on March 8, 1947.”
