James E. Hartzheim, Sr

James E. Hartzheim, Sr

On April 21, 1942 I left Combined Locks, Wisconsin and arrived in Chicago, Illinois to enlist in the U.S. Navy. On April 22nd I was sworn into the United States Navy, and on April 23rd I arrived at Great Lakes Naval Station. I was assigned to CO 300, wth a group of would be Felons from Philadelphia, PA. Ten weeks of tough physical training for a "back woods boy" right off the farm, and dealing with the "hoods" from PA, plus sleeping in a hammock were some of the toughest parts of basic training.

After completion of Basic Training in July 1942, I was sent to the Navy Pier in Chicago for more training as an Aviation Mechanic. I spent some time in the "cold brig" at the end of the pier, as I could not remember to be back in the barracks before curfew....

I left Chicago on a 5-day train trip to the coast and was assigned to Treasure Island, California in February 1943. In October 1943 I was assigned to the U.S.S. Nassau.

I arrived aboard the U.S.S. Nassau and was assigned to the Flight Deck crew as a Basic Crewman. I spent all of my time on the Nassau on the Flight Deck. (I still have my yellow hat that I wore.) My duties included everything from pulling chocks, the catapult, and arrestinggear. My battle station was a 20mm gun. I was first assigned as an ammo loader, and later as a gunner.

Some of my most memorable times aboard the U.S.S. Nassau include our trip to Australia: a short liberty in Brisbane spent searching for a "drink"; visiting the Islands; and swimming and jumping in the cold, hard salt water will be a memory never to be forgotten.

In March 1945, I left the U.S.S. Nassau and was assigned to several CA SU units on the West Coast. On April 5, 1945 I was discharged from the U.S. Navy at Los Alamitos NAS, California upon my enlistment expiration. I spent three years, 1945-1948, out of military service, and then on December 28, 1948 I enlisted in the U.S. Army, In January 1965 I retired from the U.S. Army as a SGT First Class.

On September 2, 1950 I married Virginia M. Skotzke. We currently have 6 children and 10 grandchildren.