He served as a Gunner's Mate, Third Class aboard the U.S.S. Skill ( AM-115 ) which was an auxiliary Mine Sweeper during World War II.
The Skill was built by the American Ship Building Company, of Cleveland, Ohio and was commissioned on November 17, 1942. She was ordered to the Mediterranean Sea where she swept mines and performed other mine-warfare countermeasures along the North African coast after the initial invasion at Salerno, Italy,.
On September 25, 1943, The Skill was struck by an enemy torpedo fired by German submarine U-593 while in Salarno Bay, Italy. The Skill was blown in half and the forward section capsized and the after half caught fire and sank 10 minutes later.
Out of the Skill's 103 officers and men, none of the officers and only 31 of the men survived.
John was one of those declared "Missing In Action" on that day and his remains were not recovered.
He was awarded a Purple Heart.
Service # 2441657
John was the only Delawarean on the Skill .....
The Skill was awarded one battle star for World War II service.
Son of Herbert F. Boyd and Phobe A. Ruth Boyd.
( Bio & Family Links by: Russ Pickett )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He served as a Gunner's Mate, Third Class aboard the U.S.S. Skill ( AM-115 ) which was an auxiliary Mine Sweeper during World War II.
The Skill was built by the American Ship Building Company, of Cleveland, Ohio and was commissioned on November 17, 1942. She was ordered to the Mediterranean Sea where she swept mines and performed other mine-warfare countermeasures along the North African coast after the initial invasion at Salerno, Italy,.
On September 25, 1943, The Skill was struck by an enemy torpedo fired by German submarine U-593 while in Salarno Bay, Italy. The Skill was blown in half and the forward section capsized and the after half caught fire and sank 10 minutes later.
Out of the Skill's 103 officers and men, none of the officers and only 31 of the men survived.
John was one of those declared "Missing In Action" on that day and his remains were not recovered.
He was awarded a Purple Heart.
Service # 2441657
John was the only Delawarean on the Skill .....
The Skill was awarded one battle star for World War II service.
Son of Herbert F. Boyd and Phobe A. Ruth Boyd.
( Bio & Family Links by: Russ Pickett )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inscription
Gunner's Mate 3C USN Delaware
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