Everett R. Gardner
Enlisted

USN
USS West Virginia
1942-1944

Everett R. Gardner, Machinist Mate 1/c, bom Aug. 28, 1918, and joined the USN March 18, 1941. Shipped to Norfolk, VA NOB for basic training; completed Machinist School and was transferred to the USS Yorktown (CV-5). They were in Norfolk Navy Yard when Pearl Harbor was hit.

Sent to the South Pacific for duty and fought battles of Marshal and Gilbert Islands, Salama, Lae, Tulagi, Coral Sea, Midway, Leyte Gulf and Surigao Strait. Received heavy damage at Coral Sea and returned to Pearl for "Miracle of 72 Hours" repair. As a Midway survivor, he was assigned to the Wee Vee and stayed with her through the Surigao Strait Battle.

Transferred to Steam Reciprocating Engine School, then put the USS Gratia in commission. He was medically discharged from the Oakland Naval Hospital Aug. 16, 1946.

As a civilian, he was a prototype machinist with an engineering company and foreman, retired in August 1982. Married and has one daughter. He is now living the good life in Ormond Beach, FL.

Reprinted with permission from Turner Publishing


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