Louis J. Flaherty Jr.

Louis “Jack” Flaherty was born in rural Mississippi in 1923.  After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Navy in 1942 serving as a Second-Class Petty Officer Aerographers mate on the aircraft carrier USS Randolph throughout the World War Two Pacific campaign.  While supporting the invasion of Iwo Jima, the Randolph was hit by several Japanese kamikazes, killing 27 and injuring 105 of his shipmates.  The Randolph was severely damaged, and a decision was made to return her to America for repairs.  The Randolph’s captain convinced the admirals that the ship could be repaired at sea.  What commenced became the most extensive repair at sea ever performed by the US Navy.  Working 20 hours a day, the remaining crew of the Randolph worked tirelessly for three weeks and on April 1, 1945, joined the task force in time for the invasion of Okinawa.  Jack once reflected that he has never worked so hard or was so proud when the Randolph participated in the final battle of World War 2.  Jack proudly stood on the deck of the Randolph in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese surrendered. Among his decorations listed on his plaque are the Navy Unit Commendation Award and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with three stars.

Upon his discharge from the Navy Jack continued his service to this country by serving in the Army Air Force and then in the newly established US Air Force in 1946 and rising to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.  He served in Japan and Germany and worked in one of the first communications centers in Alaska.  To reach his assigned destination, Jack hitched up a trailer and drove the entire Al-Can highway in 1953 with his wife Dorothy and his infant daughter Maribeth. 

Due to the classified nature of his duties, Jack never talked much about his experiences with the Air Force Security Services, although he did remark once that he could see Russia from his front porch.

After his retirement the Air Force in 1964 Jack moved to Southern California and worked in the defense industry where his special skills as a technical trainer were in great demand.  After leaving Boeing, Jack and Dorothy moved to Escondido to be close to their daughter and grandson Patrick who is also here today.  His family celebrated his 99^th birthday in 2022.