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Jonathan Fischer - World War II

Immediately after graduation in 1943, Jonathan Fischer was drafted and chose duty with the Navy. He attended Basic Training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, then gunnery school at Norfolk, VA. Fischer discussed his various duties during WW II on two Liberty Ships: SS Joseph F. Emery and SS James A. Wilder, as well as his experiences when he was recalled to active duty for a short time during the Korean War.

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Abstract

Interview (Audio)

Transcript


Photos

Caption
Shore pass while docked at Port Sudan. Note: no time limits.

Where:
Port Sudan

When:
4/12/1944

Ownership:
Public domain

Caption
Jon and Navy buddy in Naples, Italy, with Jon’s Army friend, Don Bikey from Quincy IL. Bikey was later killed in Italy.

Where:
Naples, Italy

When:
1944

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Gun crew practice on the SS James A. Wilder in 1945 in the South Pacific.

Where:
South Pacific

When:
1945

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Jon with a fellow gun crewman and two signalmen from the SS James A. Wilder at Manila, 1945.

Where:
Manila, Philippines

When:
1945

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
1949, Reserve 2 week training cruise, Eastport, Maine.

Where:
Eastport, Maine

When:
1949

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Honor Flight Certificate, 2009.

Where:
Unknown

When:
2009

Ownership:
Public domain

Caption
Fischer, during service on the USS Greene.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Public domain

Caption
Fischer in work clothes on the Greene. Last time in Manila.

Where:
Manila, Philippines

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Public domain

Caption
Buddies from the James A. Wilder relaxing ashore in New Guinea.

Where:
New Guinea

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Jon (right) with the Navy semaphore signalman from the SS James A. Wilder.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Jon and buddy Howard Fain in front of the Navy’s 20mm batteries on the SS James A. Wilder.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
SS James A. Wilder gun crewmen celebrating in San Francisco. Jon is far left.

Where:
San Francisco, California

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Jon in Quincy IL, a regular medallist in Senior Olympics.

Where:
Quincy, Illinois

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Jon (closest) won this event Senior Olympics at Sheridan Swim Club in Quincy.

Where:
Quincy, Illinois

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Jon in front of the Illinois WWII Memorial in Washington, D. C. during the Honor Flight visit.

Where:
Washington, D. C.

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Jon stands tall next to the statue honoring U. S. Navy veterans of WWII at the Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Where:
Washington, D.C.

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
The peaceful fountain at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Where:
Washington, D.C.

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo



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