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Diane (TWS Admin) Short, SA
to remember
Hammill, Don (Salty Sam), SO1.
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Contact Info
Date of Passing Dec 21, 2012
Location of Interment Utah State Veterans Cemetery - Bluffdale, Utah
I AM NOW VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT,
UTAH COUNCIL NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES
Unofficial US NAVY CERTIFICATES
COLD WAR CERTIFICATE
GOLDEN DRAGON CERTIFICATE
Per the National Cemetery Administration........
HAMMILL, DON E
SO1 US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 02/04/1923
DATE OF DEATH: 12/21/2012
BURIED AT: SECTION A-1 ROW D SITE 1
UTAH STATE VETERANS CEMETERY
Other Comments:
Hammill, a native of Salt Lake City, enlisted into the U.S. Navy in January, 1942, at the age of 18. After basic training and sonar school he was assigned to the crew of the APD-17 U.S.S. Crosby. Converted into a swift, amphibious attack vessel designed to deliver shock troops into battle, the Crosby was an old World War I destroyer brought out of mothballs. Painted in garish green-splotched camouflage, it joined 4 other ships of its class to create an amphibious warfare task force called TRANSDIV 22, "The Green Dragons." Hammill and his crewmates saw tremendous action during 17 amphibious landings in the South Pacific that included the islands of Guadalcanal, New Guinea, New Georgia, New Britian, Bouganville, Hollandia, Leyte, Luzon, Manila Bay, Corregidor and Okinawa. Their duties ranged from landing Army Rangers and Marines ashore, anti-submarine patrol, radar picket duty, recovering shipwrecked sailors, to shore bombardment and fire support. It was during operations off of Bouganville Island on November 17, 1943 that Hammill survived through one of his most memorable days of combat. Hammill was manning his battle-stations post at an anti-aircraft gun on the bridge. The Crosby was under a vicious strafing and dive-bombing by two Japanese aircraft. Witnesses report that Hammill fired with deadly accuracy at a low-flying bomber that was starting a Kamikazi attack on his vessel. Sonarman Hammill opened up his 20mm gun emptying a full magazine into the enemy plane. His shells tore apart the enemy's cockpit causing the aircraft to veer up radically barely missing the ship's bridge before plunging into the sea. Hammill sailed and fought on his ship for 23 consecutive months. At war's end, he came home to Salt Lake City and earned a Law Degree from the University of Utah.
World War II/American Theater
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.
.png?ixlib=java-2.3.0&w=100&s=c49280a91b79826dbff47dc198f1bbf0 "Honorable Discharge Emblem (WWII)")
