Robert Edward Panger
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
PANGER, Robert Edward
Robert Edward "Bob" Panger was born on April 24th 1925 to Victor Joseph & Rose M. [Bouchey] Panger in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mr. Panger enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and did 13 weeks of boot camp and 16 weeks at baker’s school in Farragut, Idaho. He rose to the rank of Baker’s Mate 3rd Class (Bkr3c).
He was assigned to the U.S.S. Nashville in 1943.
Bob recalls, "On December 13th, 1944 as the worst day of my life, when a kamikaze plane hit the ship, killing 113 and wounding 190 others".
Life in the Navy was not all work and no play, though. He was allowed leave in Sydney, Australia and then after the war in Shanghai, China. One memorable event was when his “homemade” wine exploded behind the bread mixer where it had been hidden.
He was honorably discharged in 1946 but he then enlisted in the Navy Reserve in 1948. He married Mary Aileen [Corrigan] in Duluth in 1950 and they started a family.
Uncle Sam called him back into active duty in 1950 for the Korean War. He was assigned to the Sea Bees and shipped out with sealed orders (which were never opened) to Korea. After that he returned to the States and was sent on a resupply run to Point Barrow, Alaska, which can only be reached by ship one month out of the year. Once back in California, he received his discharge papers and left the Navy in 1951.
After he retired from the military he was a lifetime member of VFW 137 and West Duluth American Legion Post 71. Mr. Panger died on November 13th 2010 at 85 years of age. He is buried at Oneota Cemetery in Duluth.
For more on Bob's ship, please see: http://www.uss-nashville.com/
Source(s):
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards - Fold3 (birthdate incorrect)
