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Norman Coe
Navy
Norman Coe
Assigned: USS Mackinac (AVP-13)
Location of Service: Pacific
Gender: male
From City: Westerville
From State: Ohio

Awards and Citations

  • American Campaign Medal - WW II
  • Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal - WWII
  • Navy Good Conduct Medal
  • World War II Victory Medal
Honored by Kyle, Great Nephew


My War Stories
1943 Norman and his friend decided to join the Coast Guard but they were not satisfied with the Coast Guard and they wanted to be Navy sailors. Went to Great Lakes for basic training. Inducted April 1943 and assigned to USS Mackinac.
1944 Assigned to USS Mackinac for the reminder of the war where is served in the island hopping campaigns of the Pacific. Some of the ports included Kwajalain, Aniwetok, Pelilieu, Saipan, and Tibian. These were ports where mail was received from. Sailors mail was censored, they were not allowed to speak of the weather, location, ships, battles, or anything else deemed important by the Navy.
1945 Norman sent back a pair of pure silk gloves and a handkerchief to his sister Eloise and at this time silk was to be used only for the war effort like parachutes. The woman on the home front had a hard time because there was not silk for leg stockings. His sister felt very privileged to receive the silk since no one was allowed to have it.
9/2/1945 Sailed ahead of the Battleship Missouri to check for mines into Tokyo Harbor on September 2, 1945 in preparation for the signing of the Potsdam Declaration.
3/1946 In March of 1946 Norman and his friend sailed back to San Francisco and was being discharged. At this time there was no formal way to get back to one’s home city so the men had to hitch hike all the way back to Columbus, Ohio. It was very common at this time for drivers to pick up hitchhikers, especially service men. All they had with them were their Navy whites with no winter gear. Since it was cold out Norman got a bad cold that weakened his lungs, which later lead to tuberculosis. He was so sick that he had to spend 2 years in the veteran hospital. They took so many x-rays of him that he became very interested in radiology and later attended the Ohio State University for radiology.

My War Pictures
Mackinac conducted seaplane tending duties in November 1943 when she arrived in the Gilberts. She then participated in a Central Pacific campaigns, culminating in operations at Okinawa in 1945. Mackinac conducted seaplane tending duties in November 1943 when she arrived in the Gilberts. She then participated in a Central Pacific campaigns, culminating in operations at Okinawa in 1945.
Following the Japanese surrender, Mackinac performed occupation duty in Japan through January 1946. Following the Japanese surrender, Mackinac performed occupation duty in Japan through January 1946.
USS Mackinac, Barnegat-class small seaplane tender, was built at the Puget Sound, Washington, and was commissioned in January 1942. USS Mackinac, Barnegat-class small seaplane tender, was built at the Puget Sound, Washington, and was commissioned in January 1942.
Silk from Tokyo, Japan. Has a picture of Mt. Fuji. Silk was a rationed item and could not be used by american citizens because silk was needed for parachutes. However Horman sent his sister some silk and we still won the war. Silk from Tokyo, Japan. Has a picture of Mt. Fuji. Silk was a rationed item and could not be used by american citizens because silk was needed for parachutes. However Horman sent his sister some silk and we still won the war.
War ration book used by Norman sister Eloise. War ration book used by Norman sister Eloise.
Ration Stamps. Ration Stamps.
The stamps were used to buy rationed items. Rationed items were items of limited quantity because they were needed for the war effort. The stamps came in books like the one seen here. The stamps were used to buy rationed items. Rationed items were items of limited quantity because they were needed for the war effort. The stamps came in books like the one seen here.
Christmas card to his sister 1945. From Japan, has Mt. Fuji on it. Christmas card to his sister 1945. From Japan, has Mt. Fuji on it.
All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet. All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet.
Left Unknown, Good Conduct, World War II Victory, Asiatic- Pacific, and American Campaign medals. Left Unknown, Good Conduct, World War II Victory, Asiatic- Pacific, and American Campaign medals.
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