![[ USS CHENANGO ]](sliced_images/index3_r2_c9.jpg)
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I am R. Fischer, a Navy Veteran of WWII on an Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. CHENANGO. It is my hope that you discover my journals here and find them interesting as I share personal and historical accounts of
World War II.
Maybe we were on the same ship, or you were on one of those tin cans that gave us support. Or maybe you are a youngerster learning about the war in school. For all of you here, I would like to welcome you to my website.
Begin by reading actual accounts of WWII -» See WWII Journals
About R. Fischer ...
I am the same patriotic, flag-waving kind of guy I was at eighteen. The big difference now is, as I write this, I am seventy-six years old. I have a wife of more than fifty-six years, she is my life line. She gives me courage and strength, and she gave me two wonderful children. A handsome son, and a beautiful daughter. They gave us seven fun, happy, playful grandchildren. Our cup runith over, and the saucer too. If you read my journals, you know how we met. Blind dates are always rocky. You know what they say. "All is well that ends well."
When we were young, we built several houses. I loved working with wood. All through my life it was fix this and fix that. I worked in the printing industry through my working years. Started out as some printers devil. I ran small medium, and large presses, eventually worked up to management, and eventually was the director of printing for a major university. My night school at the university payed off for my family. When I retired, I took up wood carving, and they said I got quite good at it. I would not call my work masters, but I was able to sell some pieces. The birds and poetry on this site are mine. I also took up golfing and all I will say on that is I played at the game. Arthritis in my hands put an end to my wood carving and guitar playing, and old age problems put a halt to my golfing. (Just when I had it figured out.)
It was then that I purchased a computer to fill in my lonely time. Then my daughter and I discussed about writing a story of my life on an air craft carrier. What the heck I had nothing but time so I started to write.
My daughter had built a family website, and put that story on it. Then came the poems. She displayed the poems, and even featured some of my wood carvings. Soon my grand kids got into the act. Now it is our family site. |
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A Few Letters ... |
My uncle, Earl Ress, served on the Chenango and it was fascinating reading your website. It gave me insight into his experiences. Thank you!
~ Tom Ress
Response:
Thank you for visiting my website. I do not remember your uncle however it was a long time ago, and there were almost 2000 men on Chenango. I am proud to have served with him.
~ R. Fischer
January 29, 2010
My father A.J. MacDonald was assigned to the USS Chenango, Torpedo Squadron 25 in September 1944, he was a turret gunner on a TBM. I have his Aviators Flight Log Book which shows 357.8 hours of flight time attacking enemy targets while assigned to the Chenango. He was awarded a DFC which I believe was from his time on the Chenango. Previous to the Chenango he was assigned to the USS Hornet CV-8. He had 378.5 hours of time from Bombing Squadron 8 and other aviation units. Wish I knew more, he passed away in 1990. He was awarded a DFC which I believe was from his time on the Chenango. I wish I knew more about him.
It's a great web site, my father enlisted in 1939. His first ship was the USS Hornet CV-8 and was on the Hornet during the Doolittle raid and when she was sunk at the battle of the Santa Cruz islands , he was a gunner on a Dauntless while on the Hornet, Bombing Group 8. He mentioned they flew as many aircraft off the Hornet to a jeep carrier, and that he was on the Chenango till the end of the war. He mustered out in 1946 as a Chief Petty Officer . He saw lots of action in the South Pacific , surprised he lived through it, he also didn't talk much about it when I was young. His last entry in his flight log was 2/11/46.
~ Jay MacDonald
Response:
Your dad was a busy guy. You must be very proud of him. I am glad you found my site, and hope it gave you a better insight into what it was like for him. Thank you for your service to our country.
~ R. Fischer
-» More Letters 
