I am hoping that the members of this forum can help me find more information regarding my father's service during WWII. We have found some information through the government, but we are told much of his record is missing.
What we do know is that my father enlisted in the Navy in Idaho, WA, and was discharged in Bremerton, WA. He was the bombardier on a PBY Catalina, squadron 53. He received the Philippine Liberation Medal, which may say something about what we have heard about his last month's of service. My mother says that he spent the last six months of the war in a "mental" hospital (battle fatigue?), and that he had survived his plane being shot down three times. His medical records are missing so none of this can be confirmed.
I would so appreciate any assistance the members here can offer in providing additional leads. As has been true of most of the WWII veterans, my father said very little about his service before he died. My father's name was Donald Emmett Hendrix and he was born on July 16, 1925.
I have attached a picture of my father with his crew members and plane. He is in the front row, second from left.
Thank you,
Penny Hendrix
What we do know is that my father enlisted in the Navy in Idaho, WA, and was discharged in Bremerton, WA. He was the bombardier on a PBY Catalina, squadron 53. He received the Philippine Liberation Medal, which may say something about what we have heard about his last month's of service. My mother says that he spent the last six months of the war in a "mental" hospital (battle fatigue?), and that he had survived his plane being shot down three times. His medical records are missing so none of this can be confirmed.
I would so appreciate any assistance the members here can offer in providing additional leads. As has been true of most of the WWII veterans, my father said very little about his service before he died. My father's name was Donald Emmett Hendrix and he was born on July 16, 1925.
I have attached a picture of my father with his crew members and plane. He is in the front row, second from left.
Thank you,
Penny Hendrix
