On the Maryland, by any chance?
On LST 520.
He was the Gunner’s Mate. In combat action it was the Gunner’s Mate’s job to remove explosive shells from the breach of the ship’s guns.
In a hot gun situation, there was always the chance that the shell would explode inside the gun from a cook-off.
One time my Dad removed the shell, threw it overboard and it exploded before it hit the water.