Donald D. Harding

Grandpa Don was a torpedo man in the United States Navy during WWII At the end of his last tour he volunteered for a special assignment. The only thing he knew about the assignment was it meant shore duty. The exact details of the assignment were classified on a need to know bases. Once Grandpa arrived at his new duty station he was briefed on his volunteered assignment. He was told that he would join the Fighting SeaBees to build the airstrips on a tiny Pacific island. The planes that would take off from these airstrips would be carrying the atomic bombs for Japan.

When the job was done the Fighting SeaBees were so impressed with Grandpa and the other Torpedo men that the redesigned their Rating Badge. They gave them the SeaBee patch with a Torpedo on it.

Grandpa Don was proud of his naval service. It is sad that another hero from our Countries Greatest Generation is gone.

Fair winds and following sea's

Thank you for all the great sea stories.

Your Grandson Darrell

Chief Petty Officer USN RET

Survived by four sisters, one Step-son, four Grandchildren, ten great grand-children and five great great grand- children.