“It wasn’t uncommon for boys to lie about their age in order to serve. Ray Jackson, who joined the Marines at 16 during World War II, founded the group Veterans of Underage Military Service in 1991, and it listed more than 1,200 active members, including 26 women. “Some of these guys came from large families and there wasn’t enough food to go around, and this was a way out,” Jackson told a reporter. “Others just had family problems and wanted to get away.”
Wow, sound exactly like my dad’s story. Youngest of 10, Lied about his age, Joined the Navy at age 15, was hit by kamikaze’s at age 16 on the US Franklin, almost sunk, they saved her.
In my kitchen, I keep a picture of the ship listing 40 degrees, burning on fire, smoke everywhere, to remind my 17 year old and 15 year old kids (and myself) how easy their life is.
By all accounts the Franklin should have sunk but they somehow saved her which was a miracle.
Good picture to have and a good lesson to teach.
My Dad quit school as soon as he turned 17 and enlisted in the Navy...
Was a destroyer sailor in the Pacific...He and other members of his crew were involved in firefighting and damage control on board the Franklin...He had some great pics taken from his destroyer (USS Melvin DD680) along side the Franklin as she listed, engulfed in smoke...
They helped save “Big Ben”...