David grew up in Southern California. He enlisted in the Navy in 1948, remaining in San Diego after basic training and studying to be an airplane mechanic. He was assigned to the Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron Eleven, also known as Fasron-11, until transferring to the USS Sicily (aka the CVE-118) in July, 1950. Shortly after that, the ship sailed for Asia and battle in the Korean War.
David served aboard the Sicily for two tours of duty in Korea as follows: "The Sicily was designated flagship of Carrier Division (CarDiv) 15 and on 3 August launched aircraft of VMF-214 on their first air strike in support of Allied ground forces. During this tour, she supported ground operations at Pohang, the Inchon landing, the advance to Seoul, and the withdrawal of the marines from the Chosin Reservoir to Hungnam before returning to San Diego on 5 February 1951. On her second tour with the 7th Fleet, from 13 May to 12 October 1951, SICILY operated on both the east and west coast of Korea."
The Sicily hosted two Marine fighter pilot squadrons during this time: the VMF-214, aka the Black Sheep Squadron, and the VMF-323, aka the Death Rattlers, both flying Vought F4U Corsairs, a plane nicknamed "Whistling Death" and "Widow Maker."
David was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1952, after steadily advancing in rank during his enlistment and qualifying for several medals.
After his return, he was employed as an airplane mechanic at a local military base. Tragically, he was killed in an early morning auto accident only two days after his birthday, leaving his 3 children to grow up without a father. His sons were only 5 and 3 and his daughter only a year old when he was taken from them.
Gone, but not forgotten...
David served aboard the Sicily for two tours of duty in Korea as follows: "The Sicily was designated flagship of Carrier Division (CarDiv) 15 and on 3 August launched aircraft of VMF-214 on their first air strike in support of Allied ground forces. During this tour, she supported ground operations at Pohang, the Inchon landing, the advance to Seoul, and the withdrawal of the marines from the Chosin Reservoir to Hungnam before returning to San Diego on 5 February 1951. On her second tour with the 7th Fleet, from 13 May to 12 October 1951, SICILY operated on both the east and west coast of Korea."
The Sicily hosted two Marine fighter pilot squadrons during this time: the VMF-214, aka the Black Sheep Squadron, and the VMF-323, aka the Death Rattlers, both flying Vought F4U Corsairs, a plane nicknamed "Whistling Death" and "Widow Maker."
David was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1952, after steadily advancing in rank during his enlistment and qualifying for several medals.
After his return, he was employed as an airplane mechanic at a local military base. Tragically, he was killed in an early morning auto accident only two days after his birthday, leaving his 3 children to grow up without a father. His sons were only 5 and 3 and his daughter only a year old when he was taken from them.
Gone, but not forgotten...
David grew up in Southern California. He enlisted in the Navy in 1948, remaining in San Diego after basic training and studying to be an airplane mechanic. He was assigned to the Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron Eleven, also known as Fasron-11, until transferring to the USS Sicily (aka the CVE-118) in July, 1950. Shortly after that, the ship sailed for Asia and battle in the Korean War.
David served aboard the Sicily for two tours of duty in Korea as follows: "The Sicily was designated flagship of Carrier Division (CarDiv) 15 and on 3 August launched aircraft of VMF-214 on their first air strike in support of Allied ground forces. During this tour, she supported ground operations at Pohang, the Inchon landing, the advance to Seoul, and the withdrawal of the marines from the Chosin Reservoir to Hungnam before returning to San Diego on 5 February 1951. On her second tour with the 7th Fleet, from 13 May to 12 October 1951, SICILY operated on both the east and west coast of Korea."
The Sicily hosted two Marine fighter pilot squadrons during this time: the VMF-214, aka the Black Sheep Squadron, and the VMF-323, aka the Death Rattlers, both flying Vought F4U Corsairs, a plane nicknamed "Whistling Death" and "Widow Maker."
David was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1952, after steadily advancing in rank during his enlistment and qualifying for several medals.
After his return, he was employed as an airplane mechanic at a local military base. Tragically, he was killed in an early morning auto accident only two days after his birthday, leaving his 3 children to grow up without a father. His sons were only 5 and 3 and his daughter only a year old when he was taken from them.
Gone, but not forgotten...
David served aboard the Sicily for two tours of duty in Korea as follows: "The Sicily was designated flagship of Carrier Division (CarDiv) 15 and on 3 August launched aircraft of VMF-214 on their first air strike in support of Allied ground forces. During this tour, she supported ground operations at Pohang, the Inchon landing, the advance to Seoul, and the withdrawal of the marines from the Chosin Reservoir to Hungnam before returning to San Diego on 5 February 1951. On her second tour with the 7th Fleet, from 13 May to 12 October 1951, SICILY operated on both the east and west coast of Korea."
The Sicily hosted two Marine fighter pilot squadrons during this time: the VMF-214, aka the Black Sheep Squadron, and the VMF-323, aka the Death Rattlers, both flying Vought F4U Corsairs, a plane nicknamed "Whistling Death" and "Widow Maker."
David was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1952, after steadily advancing in rank during his enlistment and qualifying for several medals.
After his return, he was employed as an airplane mechanic at a local military base. Tragically, he was killed in an early morning auto accident only two days after his birthday, leaving his 3 children to grow up without a father. His sons were only 5 and 3 and his daughter only a year old when he was taken from them.
Gone, but not forgotten...
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