My father lied about his age (17) to sign up for WWI, worked his way through college when he got home, and signed up again without hesitation for WWII when his country called. He commanded two destroyers in the South Pacific and saw plenty of action.
But then, that was back when - as one of my friends likes to say - men were men, and women were glad.
You had a fantastic father and I can see how proud you are of him.
However, today, if he was in the U.S. Navy, it would be different. Under Secy of Navy Ray Mabus, it would be called “The Queens Navy” and the official Navy song would be “In the Navy” by the Village People, not “Anchors Away”.
I think the Mabus Navy’s symbol should be “The Pink Submarine” as in the comedy movie. Most appropriate, and as submariner would say when they hit an anti-sub net, “What a DRAG”.