Raymond P. Lefker, Chief Boilerman Technician, born Dec. 19, 1916,
Cincinnati, OH; completed high school; and enlisted in the USN on Sept.
19, 1935. After boot training he was assigned to the battleship USS
West Virginia.
In September 1941 he was transferred to the USS
Oglala flag ship of the mine force at Pearl Harbor where it was sunk.
After the attack he was assigned to burial detail and security patrol
along Pearl Harbor water front.
During the war he also served on
destroyers and escorted convoys during the North African Campaign. He
spent the last war years in the Pacific, screening carriers from
kamikaze attacks and ended up in Tokyo Bay on surrender day.
Memorable
experiences include riding out a typhoon on board the USS Goss (DE-444)
during the Okinawa campaign; the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7; and
the surrender in Tokyo Bay.
He retired from the USN July 18,
1958; then worked in Federal Civil Service until he retired in January
1972 as a naval inspector of mechanical systems, supervisor of ship
repair and alterations in San Diego, CA. He received all the usual
medals issued during the Pacific and North African Campaign.
Married
Crissy and has two children, three grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren. He enjoys traveling in his motor home, fishing and
boating.
Reprinted with permission from Turner Publishing |