In Fall 1940, his junior year of high school at Talihina, John Hunt falsified his age by three years to enlist in the Navy. (Consequently, his military records and his grave marker at Elmwood Cemetery indicate a birth year of 1921.)
In 1940, John completed basic training and special training in music for a rating of Bugler; he later advanced to Buglemaster. He was aboard ship in the South Pacific on the Cruiser Louisville at the outbreak of the war with Japan. He served in the Pacific Theater for the duration of WW-II.
As part of various task forces, John was aboard ship for combat actions at Japanese bases in Gilbert, Marshall, and Solomon Islands; Aleutian Islands; Guadalcanal; Rennell Island; assault and occupation of Attu Island and bombardment of Kiska; bombardment of Wotje, Kwajalein and Eniwetok atolls in the Marshall Islands; bombardment of Truk, Sawatan Saipan, Tinian, and Guam; bombardment of Peleliu and Leyte; Battle of the Surigao Strait; and assault of Luzon. In January 1945, Louisville was struck by two Kamikaze special attack aircraft while supporting American operations in the Philippine Islands.
In 1945 when the USS Louisville went in for repairs, John was assigned shore duty at the Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington. At that duty station he applied for data processing school and was reassigned to the Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Florida, where he earned a new rating as Machine Accountant.
In that rating John served at locations New Jersey, Maryland, and Norfolk, Virginia. He attained a rating of Chief Petty Officer and was assigned to his final active duty assignment as instructor at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.
In 1962 John was assigned to Fleet Reserve at San Diego, California, and began teaching data processing in business schools in California and Oklahoma. In 1970 he received discharge and full retirement for 30 years of service in the Navy. He was living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the time of his death on May 2, 1979.
In Fall 1940, his junior year of high school at Talihina, John Hunt falsified his age by three years to enlist in the Navy. (Consequently, his military records and his grave marker at Elmwood Cemetery indicate a birth year of 1921.)
In 1940, John completed basic training and special training in music for a rating of Bugler; he later advanced to Buglemaster. He was aboard ship in the South Pacific on the Cruiser Louisville at the outbreak of the war with Japan. He served in the Pacific Theater for the duration of WW-II.
As part of various task forces, John was aboard ship for combat actions at Japanese bases in Gilbert, Marshall, and Solomon Islands; Aleutian Islands; Guadalcanal; Rennell Island; assault and occupation of Attu Island and bombardment of Kiska; bombardment of Wotje, Kwajalein and Eniwetok atolls in the Marshall Islands; bombardment of Truk, Sawatan Saipan, Tinian, and Guam; bombardment of Peleliu and Leyte; Battle of the Surigao Strait; and assault of Luzon. In January 1945, Louisville was struck by two Kamikaze special attack aircraft while supporting American operations in the Philippine Islands.
In 1945 when the USS Louisville went in for repairs, John was assigned shore duty at the Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington. At that duty station he applied for data processing school and was reassigned to the Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Florida, where he earned a new rating as Machine Accountant.
In that rating John served at locations New Jersey, Maryland, and Norfolk, Virginia. He attained a rating of Chief Petty Officer and was assigned to his final active duty assignment as instructor at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.
In 1962 John was assigned to Fleet Reserve at San Diego, California, and began teaching data processing in business schools in California and Oklahoma. In 1970 he received discharge and full retirement for 30 years of service in the Navy. He was living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the time of his death on May 2, 1979.
Inscription
CH MACH US Navy World War II
Gravesite Details
Military marker shows John enlisted at three years under age.
Family Members
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