Delmer Clifford Alford (1920 - 2008)

Born 13 Dec 1920 in Harrison, Washington, Georgia, United States

Died 16 May 2008 at age 87 in Suwannee, Dixie, Florida, United States

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Delmer Alford was a Georgian.

Biography

Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Delmer Alford served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 25 Aug 1942
Unit(s): USS Antaeus A521, USS Spry PG 64, USS PC 493, USS Missouri BB63
Service ended: 19 Oct 1945

Delmer Alford was awarded the Navy Combat Action Ribbon.

Delmer Alford was awarded the American Campaign Medal.

Delmer Alford was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

World War II Victory Medal

Military

Delmer Clifford Alford December 13th, 1920 to May 16th, 2008 Husband of Great Grandaunt Babb Side. United States Navy Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class He enlisted on August 25th, 1942 in Augusta, Georgia SN: 6369085 he underwent his basic training at Naval Training Station Norfolk, Virginia and during his time in the service he held the ranks of Apprentice Seaman, Seaman 2nd Class, Seaman 1st Class, and Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class. He then attended the 10 week Gunner’s Mate School in Washington DC before joining the USS Antaeus (A 521) a submarine tender on December 28th, 1942 then transferring to the USS Spry (PG 64) a British Flower Class Corvette on December 31st, 1943 and then the USS PC 493 a PC 461 Class Patrol Craft on January 31st, 1944 before joining the legendary USS Missouri (BB 63) a Iowa Class Battleship which he served on during the Battle of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and 3rd Fleet Operations against Japan and it is very possible on the Missouri he witnessed the Japanese surrender. Being a Gunner’s Mate he had a first row seat to all the action and there are pictures of him in the service including one where he is among the sailors preparing for impact at the gun stations as you can literally see the Japanese kamikaze that is about to hit their ship and he carried that piece of plane in his wallet the rest of his life. He told his Grandson when that plane came in and was about to hit he didn’t think he would see His Nanny (his wife Marie Babb) or His Mother again (He and Marie’s newborn daughter no more than 2 at the time of the kamikaze) During his service he also took part in Anti Submarine Operations and was briefly stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and he was Honorably Discharged on October 19th, 1945 in Jacksonville, Florida Personal Info: From: Harrison, GA, before the service he was a auto mechanic with his father, 8 years of grammar 1 year of high school Known Awards Below The Combat Action Ribbon, The American Campaign Medal, The Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Campaign Stars for the Anti Submarine Ops, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and 3rd Fleet Ops Campaigns, and The World War Two Victory Medal

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