Frank Spisak

Frank Spisak

I was born on October 13, 1920, in Los Angeles, California to Hungarian immigrant parents. I graduated from Huntington Park High School in June 1940

I joined the Navy in December 1941,at the Federal Building in Los Angeles, California, one week after Pearl Harbor. In February 1942 I attended the U.S. Naval Training Center in San Diego, California for Boot Camp. Upon completion, I was assigned to the U.S. Naval Training Schools, San Diego, for Class A Radioman's School.

In July 1942, I received orders for transfer to the U.S. Naval Receiving Station in Bremerton, Washington as part of the pre-commissioning detail for the U.S.S. Nassau (CVE-16). On September 16, 1942 I moved aboard the Nassau as part of the ship'scompany and was assigned to the Communications Division as a Radioman Stricker. My duty station was Main Radio 1.

My most memorable event while serving aboard the Nassau was crossing the Equator on October 31, 1942, and being elevated to a Shellback.

While the Nassau was in San Diego, in June 1944, I received orders to attend the following schools: Hertzel Junior College, Chicago, III.; College of the Ozarks, Clarksville, AK; and U.S. Naval Research Lab., Bellevue, MD. I completed the coursework in these schools in June 1945.

In June 1945, I received orders to report to the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in Virginia, as part of the pre-commissioning detail for the U.S.S. Midway (CVB-41).

I was discharged from the Navy on December 28, 1945 at the U.S. Naval Receiving Station, Long Beach, CA, on points.

I married Ruth Elaine Stanford on June 8, 1946 in Los Angeles, California. We had been going together since our high school days. We have one daughter, Susan Lilas, who was born on November 6, 1951 at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD. We have one grandson, Jonathan Lawrence Wiggs.

My Naval career after W.W. II began on April 22, 1947 when I joined the Naval Reserve at the U.S. Naval and Marine Corp. Reserve Framing Center, Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles, CA. On June 19, 1947, I was called back to active duty as Station Keeper, and at Chavez Ravine as Electronic Maintenance Chief. I received orders to report to Freasure Island, San Francisco, CA, and I completed a Class "B" course in Electronics in February 1951.

In December 1951, I received orders for transfer to U.S. Naval Forces Far East for special assignment. I spent the first six months of 1952 on specials assignment on board the U.S.S. St. Paul and the U.S.S. Helena. I was then assigned to the U.S. Far East Command Tokyo.

In July 1953, I was transferred to Washington, D.C. for duty at the Naval Security Group Headquarters in G-52. In August 1957, I attended a one-year course of instruction at the Officer's Electronics Engineering School at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL. In October 1960, I was transferred to the Naval Training Center at Corry Field, Pensacola, Florida for duty as Electronics Maintenance & Training Officer.

In January 1964, I received orders for transfer to London, England for duty with the Corn In Chief U.S. Naval Forces Europe as Electronic Officer for NavSecGru Europe. I retired from the U.S. Navy on 31 August, 1973. Retirement ceremonies were held at the Thirteenth Naval District Headquarters at Sand Point Naval Station, Seattle, Washington with RADM Brass presiding, My length of service was 30 years, 3 months and 12 days.