Three of Fred and Alta’s boys served in our military forces.
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Louis Pugh 1941 – Served on USS Chandeuler
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Ernie Pugh 1944 – Landed with the Marines on Iowa Jima
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Virgil Pugh 1953 – Served on USS Whiteside
Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armstice. In America, Veteran’s Day, as a national holiday, began in November 1919 when President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations….”
I would expand to say that it is a day of gratitude for all who have served our country in the preservation of freedom. And in particular in memory of my family…I always knew that my dad was in the Navy, my uncle Bill (Fishley) was in the Submarines, my uncle Ernie was in the Marines (the three of them in WWII)…and my uncle Virgil in the Navy (Korean War).
USS Chandeleur
My dad, Louis, joined the Navy in June 1941, a month after high school graduation. He trained in San Diego and then arrived in Hawaii 7 days after Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941. He spent 2 years at Pearl Harbor and Kaneohe Bay. From May 1944 to Oct 1945 he served on the USS Chandeleur (AVA 10), a seaplane tender. The ship ran sea plane rescue and patrol on many of the battles in the Pacific. The USS Chandeleur was in the fleet that was sent to the northern end of Japan at the signing of the Peace treaty.
Uncle Ernie enlisted in the Marines in November 1944. He was injured in March 1945 when the tank he was in drove over some land mines during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The mines blew the tank up and both his legs and feet were filled with scrapnel. He was bothered with these injuries for the rest of his life. He received a medical honorable discharge in December 1945.
USS Whiteside
Uncle Virgil joined the Navy shortly after high school graduation in 1951. He served during the Korean War on the USS Whiteside (AKA-90). We spoke recently about his being in Korea and Japan. I reminded him that was I a little girl when he brought raw silk home to me, my sister Betty, and our mother Marty.
USS Sculpin
And I must mention my mother’s brother, Bill. He served in the Navy submarine division. He was on the USS Sculpin (SS-191) prior to an attack on a Japanese convoy in the Central Pacific. Cousin Cliff, Bill’s son, had the following to say, ” He was transferred off the Sculping just before it went on the its final patrol.”
USS Plaice
The USS Sculpin was fatally damaged and was submerged. He then served on the USS Plaice (SS-390).
Uncle Bill in the Pacific
Uncle Bill told me the story of how he met my dad, his future brother-in-law when they were both in the Pacific. Uncle Bill knew that Dad’s ship was close by and he made arrangements to be “boated” from his submarine to dad’s ship.
Aunt Rosalie tells me that her husband, Uncle Billy, was drafted and stationed at Camp MacArthur in San Pedro, CA for a short period. He became ill after he got there, was in the hospital for some three months and subsequently released on a Medical Discharge.
I knew I was proud of their service, but I am sure that I never fully appreciated what their service to their country meant to our freedom. Now, I am forever grateful to my family- uncles and cousins who served in WWII and Viet Nam – to “my Bill” who served in WWII, and my school friends who served in Viet Nam….. and to all our veterans.
Thank you.
WJM "Bill" Boot Camp Leave
Digos Road The Phillipines
