While
going through old photos, I came across a photo of my father’s Naval
Aerographer school graduating class (the back side is signed by all of the men
in the class). From some other papers (?
perhaps now long gone) I had noted on the back of the photo:
Class #26, USN Aerographer
School, Lakehurst, NJ, Naval Air Station.
During WWII [my father] was an
"Aerographer's Mate First Class V2 USNR" (Service # 652-07-97); in
1948 belonged to the American Legion, Post #23 Wake Island, Pacific Ocean (MM#
969078). Period of active duty with the
USN was January 2,1942 - January 4, 1946. Ratings Held in USN: AS AER3C,
AER2C, AER1C,
having completed training at AER School, Lakehurst, NJ for 12 weeks.
Dad served in both the Atlantic and Pacific
fleets during WWII, and ended with his final post at Wake Island. Following his military service he eventually
found his way back to NOAA as a station meteorologist.
In checking on the website
http://www.navalweather.org/contactus.html, I do not see the photo I have,
pictured on the photo archives area (for class #26). Now that I have scanned it, I have this
photo, along with others taken on Wake Island with Dad’s last posting with the
Navy during WWII. I want to figure out
how to share these and save them in some archive, beyond the family
record. Dad was so proud of being a Navy
man and a career meteorologist, that I thought to contact you for your thoughts
on the matter.
Submitted by Karen Souhrada, daughter of xAERM1C Donald Williams
Editor’s note: The photo and roster of 1942’s Class #26 is on the website
