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Stories of a WWII Navy Veteran on the Edison Destroyer, a Story Rarely Told

November 10, 2015 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Stories of WWII Navy Veterans

Every year around Memorial Day and Veterans Day I add a little bit more to my Dad’s military story I never heard when he was alive.

WWII Naval Veteran who served on two destroyers

Like many World War II veterans, they rarely talked about their wartime years and service. My Dad’s seabag was lost in New York City at Times Square when he returned home. All of his papers, records, uniforms, and medals were lost.

My Dad was one of those veterans. The terms shell shock, war fatigue, and PTSD were just not discussed, yet emotional withdrawal, depression, and disconnection of life is now something I can see when I look back on my childhood.

After both of my parents died I found a single photo of my Father from the World War II era. From this photo, I started searching records, learned the names of the Navy Destroyers on what he served. This is just the beginning.

These were military photos I had NO IDEA existed!

I had an AMAZING phone conversation with not only a WWII veteran who wrote the book Joining the War at Sea, and served on the same ship as my Dad. He was my Dad’s Gunnery Officer, Captain Dailey on the USS Edison destroyer.

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You can read the story of how it came to be here, but I want to chronological list my Dad’s service records in hopes there are others who served during that period.

Maybe you have a have father or Grandfather who served on the same ship. Or maybe your relative was in the 508th Airborne division during the early 1950’s when he reenlisted in the 82nd Airborne with Leo Tyrrell.

I REALLy want to hear from you. I want to piece together more pieces of my Dad’s Military history

I would love to hear from anyone who had family serve aboard these ships and learn more about my Dad. Maybe there is an oral history recorded.

Maybe your Dad or Grandfather told stories of the days escorting battleships across the Atlantic, firing against the German Nazi’s or dodging the Kamikaze planes in the Pacific.

Joining the War at Sea 1939-1945: A Destroyer’s Role in World War II Naval Convoys and Invasion Landings [Paperback] [2009] (Author) Franklyn E. Dailey Jr.

The dates and locations below are taken from the book Joining the War at Sea 1939-1945 written by Captain Franklyn Dailey.

When I spoke to him he was 95 years old and I am so honored to have found him and spoken to him several times. To think he knew and worked with my Dad as his Gunnery Officer gives me chills.

Explanation of Service Ribbons

Top Left: European African Middle Eastern Campaign
Top Middle Asiatic Pacific Campaign
Top Right: Victory Medal
Bottom Left: American Defense Ribbon
Bottom Right: Phillipine Liberation Military Ribbon

Leo T Tyrrell- Date of enlistment branch USNR Sept 23, 1943

The other pins and patches above are from my Dad’s time in the Army Airborne with the 82nd Airborne, he earned his glider patch and was not only a parachute packer but a quartermaster at the end of his service.

I am a little confused about this glider patch though. I vaguely remember my Dad saying he started planes on the deck of a ship by flipping the propellers.

This was while watching the black and white WWII television series in the 1970s. While doing history on the patch it seems to be a WWII era patch, but maybe someone can clear it up for me.

Below is a running chronological listing of dates, coordinating them with the ship of record. I will continue to update this list as I find specific dates and events.

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If you have any information you can add please send me a message at the bottom of this page. Records highlighted in bold reference an official military record which documents a time and place where my Dad was present.

If you click on the date it will bring up a PDF report from Fold 3, part of my Ancestry.com subscription.

ORDER : Sand from the Iwo Jima Landing Beaches Map WWII

USS Kendrick DD 612 : The Year 1943

December 3: L. Tyrrell arrives on the USS Kendrick Benson class destroyer from RecS NYK, Auth CSF Ser. 24043 if 11/20/42 rating S2c from Rec Station NYK, Auth: CSF Ser 24043 of 11/20/43

December 28: Kendrick L.Tyrrell AWOL since 11/26/43 Trans. to R/S Pier 92 NYK. Auth BuPers Cir Ltr 160-42 (this appears to be a typo in the records, or they didn’t know he had been transferred to Edison on the 3rd)

My Dad stayed aboard the Kendrick from December of 1943-April of 1944 when he went aboard the Edison. From what I have read the USS Kendrick was also involved in the

USS Edison Combat Awards The Edison won six battle stars and my Dad received four

1 Star/Sicilian Occupation 9-15 July, August 1943
1 Star/Salerno Landings 9-21 Sept 1943
1 Star/Anzio-Nettuno Advanced Landing 22-13 Jan 1944, Feb 1944 (L. Tyrrell served)
1 Star/Invasion of Southern France Aug 15-Sept 1944 (L. Tyrrell served)
Navy Occupation Service Medal from Sept/Oct 1945

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USS Edison DD 439: The Year 1944

52,855 Nautical Miles

I always thought my Dad was at Normandy, he mentioned participating at D-Day, I just didn’t know there was more than one D-Day.

For Normandy to be successful, the Allies had to assure a supply line to the British Isles and then wrest back control of the Mediterranean from Germany.

He earned four service stars participating in the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaigns, two aboard the Kendrick and the other two on the USS Edison.

February : Edison- Algiers, Oran and Casablanca
April : Edison- Mediterranean as a decoy for the German spotters in Algeciras to draw attention from the English Channel
Log record notes first received on board April 17, 1944

2nd Division Gunnery Unit — My Dad is seated in the middle

August : Edison- Operation Dragoon, Southern France for the 3rd D-Day (didn’t know there was more than one)
August 17-22: Edison- Operation Anvil
September 15: Edison- Cape Mortola took out a bridge
September 16th: Edison-at work five separate time, gun emplacement, supply warehouse, storage tank, troop concentration
September 17th: 89 rounds to five targets
September 22: Edison- Ventimiglia Italy

Sicily-Salerno-Anzio: January 1943-June 1944 (History of United States Naval Operations in World War II) (v. 9)With Utmost Spirit: Allied Naval Operations in the Mediterranean, 1942-1945

October 1: L. Tyrrell present for muster roll

USS Edison 439: The Year 1945

51,979 Nautical miles

January: Edison-New York yard overhaul
May 8: Edison-New York, received news of V-E Day

USS Edison 439 Ship Party May 1945 in World War II, my Dad served on this Destroyer for two years — Click to see full size photo

When Captain Dailey emailed me this photo I couldn’t believe that I could find my Dad. It was obviously his posture. When I compare it to the photo on the ship a year earlier what a change. It appears he had lost weight.

June: Edison- Training with USS Eberle Guantanamo Bay
June 27: Panama Canal
July 6: San Diego San Diego
JULY 24: Dad reported declared straggler after being absent over liberty July 9-13, BNP 60 issued, BNP 641 submitted, published deck court. (Appears he was gone the same time as William L Roden and had some fun in San Diego) Information obtained from Ancestry.com military records
August 2: Pearl Harbor engaged in Pacific Fleet training exercises
September 1: Sailed for Saipan
September 12: Rescued a man overboard from USS Dawson
September 13: Arrived in Saipan
September 16th: Tanapag Harbor
September 22: Sasebo Japan
Between September and November made port in the following cities
- Nagasaki, Japan
- Nagoya, Japan
- Matsuyama, Japan
- Mindanao, Philippines

October 1: L.Tyrrell present on muster roll Slc SV6 rating
October 25: Battle for Leyte Gulf (reclaiming the Philippines from Japan)
November 3: left for Adak Alaska, served as North Pacific weather station

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USS Edison DD 439: 1946

4,973 Nautical Miles

January 1: L. Tyrrell present for muster roll
January 2: Left Alaska for the Canal Zone
April 1: L. Tyrrell present for muster roll
May 18: Charleston placed out of commission

The World War II Memorial: A Grateful Nation Remembers World War 2: The Untold Stories 81 Days Below Zero: The Incredible Survival Story of a World War II Pilot in Alaska’s Frozen Wilderness Soldier’s Heart: The Campaign to Understand My WWII Veteran Father: A Daughter’s Memoir (You’ll Never Know)

I am looking for additional stories of the USS Edison and Kendrick.

There is a small community of family members of Edison veterans who would like to hear anecdotal stories aboard ship.

If your Dad, Grandfather, or other family member kept a diary, photos I would love to hear more. Please send me a message below.

Memories of My Father on the 70th Anniversary of VJ Day

August 28, 2015 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Who remembers VJ Day? How many of the past few generations even know what V-J Day is all about? The Victory over Japan (VJ) is the day the Japanese officially accepted the surrender terms from the Allied Nations on August 14, 1945. Although in the England they recognize the date as August 15, and the official signing of surrender occurred on September 2, 1945.

Memories of My Dad

My Dad, Leo T Tyrrell, was twenty years old on VJ Day and the photo below is the only one I have of him during this time period. Unfortunately he died in 1995 and didn’t talk about his WWII years. I never even saw photos of his childhood or my parents in the 1950s.

I have been on a search for several years to piece together my Dad’s military record and from what I understand he was on the Destroyer the USS Edison 439 on this day seventy years ago when the war ended. The ship was at Pearl Harbor for training and immediately set sail to be in Japan for the Occupation during September of 1945.

I have learned a lot about this photo from military history buffs on Twitter. It appears this photo was taken at a general field hospital, note the bandage on his right hand, and the uniform and boots would of been those issued for general patients at that time.

Vj Day in Photographs Around the World The Summer of ’45: Stories and Voices from VE Day to VJ Day

Honoring My Dad

The painting below was generously done by coffee artist Nathanael Manzer, who saw my photo on Twitter and sent me this in the mail! Imagine my surprise. My apologies for the late shout out, I have since had it framed and it hangs besides the photograph.

Talking to My Dad’s Shipmate

In the years I have been searching for information on my Fathers military history I often thought how amazing it would be if I could actually talk to someone who served with him in the military. Since so many veterans from World War II and Korea have died over the years that hope started to fade.

However, I found a website which discussed the USS Edison and decided to contact the author via email. Now this website was built in the mid 1990’s and the chances of the email being active was remote, so I called the phone number listed, not knowing what to expect.

Joining the War at Sea 1939-1945: A Destroyer’s Role in World War II Naval Convoys and Invasion Landings [Paperback] [2009] (Author) Franklyn E. Dailey Jr.

The voice mail answered Franklyn Dailey Jr. and I was encouraged, must be a son, or military historial buff who wrote the book “Joining the War at Sea.” After some phone tag during the day I was actually speaking to an elderly sounding man who started asking questions about my Dad, what ship did he serve on, what job did he do, etc.

It took me a few minutes to realize I was speaking to a World War II veteran who served on the same ship, he did not sound 94 years old. When I explained that my Dad brought and loaded ammunition to the guns Mr. Dailey exclaimed “I was his Gunnery Officer!”

Oh my, a chill went through my body and gave me goose bumps. He not only served with my Dad, but was his senior officer (his boss) seventy years ago. It didn’t matter to me that Mr. Dailey only vaguely remembered the name Tyrrell, but I realized the book he wrote would tell intimately of the job my Dad did, the men he served with, and recants stories my Dad never told.

I eventually had to pull off to the side of the road and finish the conversation. I often thought I might possibly speak with someone in the 82nd Airborne that served with my Dad in the 1950’s, in Operation Longhorn, or Snowshoe, but I never dreamed I would speak to someone from his WWII days.

Frank ended the conversation with “We will get to know each other better, and have more conversations” That we will. I have since purchased his book and will be spending this weekend reading it from cover to cover. Maybe my Dad is even mentioned somewhere, at least now I will be able to attach a place and activity to the ribbons below.

The story is not finished, I have lots to tell as I have also obtained ship muster logs

Articles About the DD 439 Edison Destroyer

There isn’t very much online regarding the Edison DD439 but here are some interesting places to start.

Information and Recognition of VJ-Day

Let us never forget that day, the day the last World War ended when so many families gave everything, their lives, their sons, their daughters for freedom.

World War II Museum to commemorate 70th V-J Day

The program, which will be free and open to the public, will commemorate what has become known as V-J Day. It will start at 10:30 a.m. in the U.S. Freedom Pavilion: the Boeing Center. Among the speakers will be Ambassador Kim Beazley, who will discuss …

Memories of the Pacific theater displayed at Chapman VJ-Day exhibit

One of the most bizarre “letters” on display at the VJ-Day exhibit in the Leatherby Libraries is actually a coconut. A solider carved a smiley face and his home address into the coconut and sent it home to let his daughter know he was okay. COURTESY OF …

Book release, presentation commemorate VJ Day

Turner, a former president of the Marine War College at Quantico and Blue Mountain Community College, makes the presentation on the evening before the 70th anniversary of V-J Day. The free gathering is Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at Heritage Station …

See Participants in VJ Day Parade Reunited 70 Years Later

The photograph ran in the New Orleans Times-Picayune the next day, Aug. 15, 1945—the day often considered V-J Day, even though the war didn’t officially end until early September. Now, the Times-Picayune and the National World War II Museum in New …

Queen Elizabeth II to lead ceremonies in Britain for VJ Day …

LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II is leading ceremonies in Britain to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory over Japan during World War II.

VJ Day around the world – in pictures – The Guardian

VJ Day around the world – in pictures. From Tokyo to the US and London, events mark the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender and the end of the second world war. Elena Goodinson. Saturday 15 August 2015 08.39 EDT …

V-J Day – World War II – HISTORY.com

On August 14, 1945, it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. Since then, both August 14 and August 15 have been known as “Victoryover Japan Day,” or simply “V-J Day.

Day 297-298: Honoring my Dad on Veterans Day

November 11, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

My Dad was a private quiet man. He served in World War II and in Korea. However I know very little about his WWII experience other than he was in the Navy, on a destroyer operating one of the big guns at Normandy and in the Pacific. His papers and commendations were all lost when he arrived home on New Years Eve and put his sea bag down in Times Square. Someone else picked it up. Considering he used his brothers ID to get in at age 16 I don’t know what I can find out.

For the sake of possibly finding anybody who served with my Dad I’m listing his full name: Leo Thomas “Terry” Tyrrell, his nickname in WWII was Tiny Terry the Terrible. He wasn’t very big, 5’6″ and weighed 125 lbs sopping wet. But, from what I understand you didn’t want to mess with him. He fought like a little bantam rooster. I often compare his physique to Clint Eastwood, not an ounce of fat on him.

He reenlisted in the Korean War with the Army airborne and I do have his papers and airman’s wings which I treasure greatly. (There is a longer story on this shadow box which I will relate later) He was a paratrooper and after the war worked for a parachute factory in Manchester Connecticut. The area is now called Silk City. For many years he didn’t talk about the war, but he would watch all the black and white television shows on WWII and occasionally he would say “I sat there, that’s what I did.” I wish I had paid more attention when I was a kid.

Here’s to my Dad and all the veterans today that served our country and have given us the freedom we enjoy today. We are a safer country and world for what you did many years ago. We salute you.

Honoring My Dad, the Paratrooper (ndjmom.wordpress.com)
Korean War 60th Anniversary (gunnerscorner.wordpress.com)
82nd Airborne Gifts (Cafepress.com)

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