The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-11-05


Whatever beaches the U. S. Coast
Guard patrols these days are likely
to be located on the other side OF
the globe. commented Lieut.. Harry
]. Conn, USCGR, home on terminal
leave.
Lieut. Conn's tour o. wartime
duty included 81 months aboard
the USS LIST 20 in the Pacific
combat area as well as assignment
to the United States Coast Guard
Cutter Duane, staunch escort OF
North Atlantic conveys and later
an amphibious force flagship. Both
vessels covered every portion OF
their respective oceans while en-
gagged in combat with the enemy.
Originally assigned the job OF
Communication Officer aboard the
LIST 20. Lieutenant Conn. who re
ceived his training at the Coast
Guard Academy, handled the duties
OF Stores Officer First Lieutenant
Navigator, and Executive Officer,
prior 10 his return TO the states
last February.
The go" participated in the oc-
cupation OF Kiska. carried battle
wise veterans into Tarawa and
Kwajalein, and transported assault
units into Leyte and Luzon. Be
tween runs to enemy-held beaches,
lieut. COINS ship hauled supplies
and troops between Samoa and the
Gilbert Islands and along the New
Guinea coast.
During that time the crew, com
posed entirely OF Coast Guardsmen'
underwent nearly 80 air raids
from Japanese bombers and Kami'
kaze suicide craft. No casualties
were registered.
After rehabilitation leave, Lieut..
Conn was ordered to naval radar
training schools in Hollywood, Fla,
and st. Simons Island. Ga, and
thence to the Duane. The Coast
Guard cutter, which assisted Sis
ter ship in the sinking o. a U.boat
in 1912. had Just returned TO Charlie
ston, S. c.. for overhaul after a
tour In the Mediterranean.
Headquarters ship for the inva
sion OF Southern France. the Duane
carried the two-star flag OF Rear
Admiral Frank j. Lowrey, Com
mander Eighth Ambitious Force,
During six months prior to her re-
tdrn home, the Duane had made
Several swings around the circuit
gro,,, ntzarta 20 poIaryno and nrap
When Charleston Navy Yard au.
thorities decided to- reconvert the
Duane to a peacetime cutter. Lieut..
Conn was called upon 10 design
plans for an operations room. He
was engaged in this work and In
the training OF radarmen and sonar.
men when he was granted terminal
leave.
Lieut. Conn will be placed on in.
active duty December 10. He in.
tends to continue with newspaper
work, in which he was engaged be
fore the war, or 10 accept employ
ment with a commercial air line.
1t. and Mrs. Lester Grafton and
son recently returned from a two
week visit in New York with L.
Grafton's mother. 1t. Grafton ar.
rived home from the European
theater OF operations in September
and was granted IS day leave. He
has just returned to Seymour John.
son Field, y. c.. for further assign.
ment. 1t. Grafton wears the Presi.
dents citation with an oak leaI
cluster.
Mr. and Mrs. J. ]. Wagner re,
ceiyed a telephone call from their
son, Sgt. l.. ]. Wagner that he had
arrived Saturday in San Diego
Cal, from Maui, Hawaii, with the
Forrest Marine Division and would
be home in a few days. He had
been given a days liberty and had
spent 1t with his uncle in Los An
geles. Sgt. Wagner was in the thick
OF all the island hopping invasions
in the South Pacific and miracu
lousy escaped all harm until he
received a conclusion In the fight.
ing on Two Jima.
Cpl Robert O'Brien arrived a.
the home OF his aunt. Mrs. Harold
Sanderson Friday morning, after
receiving his discharge from the
Marine Corps at Great Lakes. Oct
81. He enlisted Feb. 13, 1943, and
spent 80 months in the Sauth Pa
cific area. He has been at Okinawa
for the past five months.
Staff Sg.. Melvin J. Giles. who Il
with the Air Corps Meteorological
Weather Forecast at Myitkyina
Burma, has written Mrs. Giles that
the field Is being closed and thai
he expects to be moved to India.
Mrs George II Campbell has re
ceiyed letters from her sons, Fire
man &c Ronald Gardner and Flight
officer Harold Campbell. -ellinp
her OF their three day happy re
union in the Pacific area. Fireman
Gardner on Saipan learned that his
brother was stationed in Tinian sc
hoped on a plane and about fit
teen minutes later landed on Tin
ian He was searching for his bro
Their. who saw him first and The
next three days were greatly en-
joyed. 1t happened several time
tina. when they had had furlough'
at home they missed each other b!
a few hours. so this was the frs
time they had seen each other II
uniform Both write that the morale
o: the men in that area Is very
low-they have nothing to do anC
.heir hope OF getting home ha'
been blasted many times until they
| - - In genaral have abOu