textemerydonaldbernard1932.html

North High School Wall of Honor
Donald Bernard Emery
Class of June, 1932

Research done by Claradell Shedd, Class of 1953. PAGE IN PROGRESS

Donald Bernard Emery

Donald was a member of North High's class of June, 1932. His next of kin were listed as Mr. Floyd and Mildred Amelia Emery, 1621 Second Avenue, Des Moines, IA. . Don's service number was 6104553.

Donald Bernard Emery

Year		Rank		Status

June, 1932		Graduated		Graduated from North High, Des Moines, IA
4 years	x		x	University of Dubuque (IA) on All-School Athletic Program B.A. in Physical Education and Biology
date	x	Family	x	Married Ruth Marie Isenbran (d.July 23,2007?) who was in the Waves. Ruth was Don's English teacher in college.
1940	x		x	University of Wisconsin, Madison. Master's Degree in Physical Education
Sept, 1940- February,1942	x	Employed	x	As coach and teacher; Ralph Beebe, Napierville, IL
January 23, 1942	x	Enlisted into US Navy/V6	x	Enlisted in Navy in DuPage County, IL (11th Congressional District); Class V6 as CSp(A) (AA).
Feb. 15, 1942	x	US Navy	x	Into Active US Navy Reserve; *NTC, Norfolk, WA
Feb. 15, 1942- April 1, 1942	x	US Navy	x	Indoctrination as Physical Instructor Rating CSp (AA) at Norfolk Training Base
April 4, 1942- August 1, 1943	x	US Navy	x	**NRAB, Squantum, MA
June 1, 1942- June 12, 1941	x	Leave	x	Leave taken while at USNR, Squantum, MA
Oct. 23, 1942- Oct. 26, 1942	x	Leave	x	Leave taken while at USNR, Squantum, MA
January 7, 1943	x	US Navy	x	Temporary appointment to Engisn D-V(S), USNR
August 1, 1943	x	US Navy/Ensign	x	From USNR, Squantum, MA to US Navy Pre-Flight School, Chapel Hill, NC
August 5, 1943- Sept. 5, 1943	x	US Navy	x	***Naval Pre-Flight School, Chapel, Hill, NC. Indoctrination to Aviation Physical Training Program (V-5)
Sept. 20, 1943- Feb. 10, 1944	x	US Navy	x	Naval Pre-Flight School, Chapel Hill, NC
Feb.25, 1944- April 14, 1944	x	US Navy	x	Naval Air Station, San Diego, CA. Assigned to Casu 5 for temporary duty as Athletic Director
April 25, 1944- May 8, 1944	x	US Navy	x	Headquarters Squadron Fleet Air Wing Two
April 15, 1944	x	Enroute	x	From San Diego, CA to Pacific Theater via ****USS Fuller (APA-7) to FRAY
May 9, 1944- May 15, 1945	x	US Navy	x	Athletic Director and liaison officer in Special Service to Major General Sanderford Jarman, USA, Island Commander for ****Saipan, Marianas Islands
May 15, 1945	x	US Navy	x	Transferred to Navy IsCom of Saipan as Athletic Director
May 15, 1945	x	US Navy/LT (j.g.)	x	Citation for Meritorious Conduct signed by Fleet Admiral C.W. Nimitz, US Navy, for service May 9, 1944 to May 15, 1945
December 11, 1945	x	US Navy	x	Certificate of Satisfactory Service signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy
December 11, 1945	x	US Navy Reserve	x	Discharged from US Navy Reserve
December 12, 1945	x	US Navy/LT (j.g.)	x	Honorable Discharge
date	x	Employment	x	where and when
October 15, 2007	x	Deceased	x	Bellingham, WA. Buried in Ferndale, WA

**Naval Air Station, Squantum, MA
Naval Air Station Squantum was an active naval aviation facility during 1917 and from 1923 until 1953. The original civilian airfield that preceded it, the Harvard Aviation Field, dates back to 1910. The base was sited on Squantum Point in the city of Quincy, Massachusetts. It also abutted Dorchester Bay, Quincy Bay, and the Neponset River.

The location of the airport doomed it to be closed in 1953. Operations were moved to the nearby South Weymouth NAS. In 1957, the Navy transferred 5 acres (20,000 m2) to the Air Force, which made the Squantum Electronics Research Annex. The site was labeled as an "Abandoned Airport" in 1960.

****USS Fuller (APA-7)
USS Fuller (APA-7) was a Heywood-class attack transport acquired by the U.S. Navy for service as a troop carrier just prior to World War II. She served in the Pacific War, a very dangerous area in the early years of the war, and safely returned home post-war with nine battle stars to her credit.

The second Navy ship to be named Fuller was built in 1919 by Bethlehem Steel Corp., Alameda, California, as City of Newport News; transferred to the Navy 12 November 1940; and commissioned in ordinary for conversion the same day; and commissioned in full 9 April 1941, Captain P. S. Theiss in command. She was reclassified from AP-14 to APA-7 on 1 February 1943. The conversion added 100 feet (30 m) in length to allow more cargo and marines to be carried.

After a U.S. West Coast overhaul between 18 January 1944 and 20 March, Fuller trained at San Diego, California, and in the Hawaiian Islands for the Marianas assault. She sailed from Pearl Harbor 29 May for Saipan, where on the morning of 15 June she staged in a feint landing before putting her troops ashore in the actual assault. Ordered away from the island for safety during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Fuller completed unloading her cargo 24 June, and sailed for Eniwetok with prisoners of war on board.

*****Saipan
Saipan is the northern most of the southern four islands in the Marianas chain. The other three, from north to south, are Tinian, Rota, and Guam. In total, the Marianas are comprised of fifteen volcanic islands that run in a generally north-south direction from 20o32'N 144o54'E to 13o15'N 144o43'E. Saipan is located about 1,200 miles from Tokyo, 1,500 mile from Manila, and over 3,200 miles from Pearl Harbor. The island has two main seasons, a dry season from November to March, and a wet season from April to October. During the dry season the winds are usually from the north and east and by August the winds have changed direction and are from the southwest. Cloud cover is abnormally high with the island being obscure roughly 70% of the time. The climate is generally mild with the yearly temperature ranging from 72o F to 85o F. During the wet season, August being the wettest month, showers may last for only a few minutes to over 2 hours. During the wet season around 85 inches of precipitation usually falls on the island.

The north, east, and south ends of the island are generally comprised of steep slopes with narrow beaches that quickly give way to deep water. The western shore of the island has more gentle slopes with the beaches being protected by outlying reefs. Exception to this barrier reef exists near the small town of Chalan Kanoa. A dredged channel leading into Tanapag Harbor also exists. This harbor offers protection from heavy winds and high seas from almost all directions. The other natural harbors on the island only offer limited protection, depending on the direction of the wind.


*NTC, Norfolk, VA	**NAS Squantum, MA	***NAS Pre-Flight,Chapel Hill,NC

****USS Fuller (APA-7)

	N-E-T-G

****USS Fuller (APA-7) Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 8 NOV 43) - China Service Medal (extended) -
American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)

COPY

UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
FLAGSHIP OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

The Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, takes pleasure in commending

LIEUTENANT (junior grade) DONALD B EMERY
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

for services as set forth in the following

CITATION:
"For meritorious conduct as Athletic Officer on the Staff of Special Services Officer of Island Commander, Saipan from 9 May 1944 to 15 May 1945. Lieutenant (jg) Emery landed on SAIPAN, MARIANAS ISLANDS with the Second Echelon of this command and assisted in the establishment of the Special Service Headquarters at CHARAN KANOA. By his initiative, energy and devotion to duty, he assisted the Special Service Officer in an outstanding manner in coordinating an athletic and recreation program which projected troop morale to very high levels. His assistance and advice in applyingt Naval customs and administrative procedures in the accomplishment of desired objectives resulted in an effective coordination of welfare effort of the joint services. His performance of duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
C.W. Nimitz
Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy

Commendation Ribbon Authorized

COPY

SSO

1 August 1945

Subject:

Recommendation for Commendation Ribbon

To:

The Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet

1. It is recommended that the following named individual be commended by the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and authorized to wear the Commendation Ribbon:

Emery, Donald B., Lieutenant (jg) S(A), USNR File No. 244-70, Headquarters Island Command, Saipan
Next of kin: Mrs. Ruth I. Emery, USCGAS, Elizabeth City, NC
Entered military service from Chicago, Illinois

2. a. Lieutenant (jg) Donald B. Emery, USNR, as a member of Special Service Staff Section of the Island Commander, Saipan, landed on the Island of Saipan with the Second Echelon of this command. He was of outstanding assistance to the Special Service Officer in planning and developing an athletic and entertainment program designed for all military services.
     b. His knowledge of procedures and customs of the Navy resulted in the accomplishment of an outstanding recreation program without friction.
     c. He was energetic, faithful, and loyal in the performance of his duties and performed his duties in a superior manner.
     d. His tact, common sense, and ability to maintain harmonious relationships with all services were major factors in the successful accomplishment of an over-all recreation program.
3. The officer concerned was Athletic Officer to the Special Service Officer, Island Command, Saipan. He was also the Naval Liaison Officer of the Special Service Staff Section. As Athletic Officer, he developed and trained an Army boxing team which won the Army Pacific Ocean Areas Championship.
4. The entire service of the above named individual has been honorable since the rendition of the service upon which this recommendation is based.
5. This recommendation is not supported by any official record.
6. a. I have personal knowledge of the services for which this award is recommended.
     b. Certificate and/or affidavits of eye witnesses or persons having personal knowledge of the facts are not enclosed, in view of paragraph 6a.

Sanderford Jarman
Major General, U.S. Army
Commanding

	Donald Bernard Emery Lieutenat (j.g.) Fleet Air Wing 2 US Navy
American Theater; Asiatic-Pacific Theater w/1 star; Navy Commendation Medal

References

(1) The World War II Army Enlistment Records contain information on more than nine million indivdual enlistments. These records can be found online at http://www.archives.gov/.

(2) The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of North High School graduates can be found online at: http://www.ndmhs.com/. Donald Bernard Emery's 1932 class page is: http://www.ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1932.html.

Died: 10/15/07, Bellingham, WA

Music: "Anchors Aweigh"