Eugene K. Clardy

After Pearl Harbor, Gene volunteered in 1942.  Following basic ifficer training, due to his sailing experience, he was asigned to the 11th Naval District Coastal Picket Patrol.  First he was third officer on the USS PALOMAS (1K-91), which  formally was the 161-foot sailing vessel, the GOODWILL.  Four months laer, he was made Captain of the GOODWILL, where he patrolled the Southern California coast guarding American and allied shipping while looking for Japanese submrines or any enemy action.

In late 1944, Gene was assigned as a Sonar Officer in the destroyer USS GEGORY (DD-802).  In February and March of 1945, GREGORY provided constant fire to screen the transport and support vessels for the invasion of Iwo Jima.

On April 1, 1945, GREGORY arrived at Okinawa to support the invasion. Gene was on the bridge on April 8, 1945, when GREGORY was attacked by three Japanese Kamakazes.  All three planes wre shot down, but one crashed into GREGORY.  The crash, amidships just above the waterline, caused injuries, flooding and the loss of power.  GREGORY was able to get temporary repairs but then had to be sent back to San Diego for complee repairs.  By the time the repairs were completed , the war had ended.