My father Kenneth Frederick Emsweller Sr. was born in Cleveland Ohio on Nov. 1, 1924. He graduated from John Adams High school in Cleveland in 1942 and enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 3, 1942, two days after turning 18.

My father ended up in the Naval Air Corp and was assigned to the VP 116 Patrol Squadron. The VP 116 Blue Raiders were deployed to Eniwetok where they went on operational patrols and sector searches. They also flew several missions against enemy positions in Truk, Wake Island and Ponape.

The VP 116 was relocated to Tinian in August of 1944. The squadron made long range sector searches and several attacks on enemy shipping. My father and his crew went out on a mission on Sept. 29, 1944 where they conducted a low level bombing and strafing attack against an armed enemy vessel. The ship was set on fire and eventually sank. However they received anti aircraft fire which damaged the plane and wounded two of the crew including my father.

My father received a letter of commendation and the Purple Heart due to the above action. He was transferred to a medical facility in Saipan on Oct. 6, 1944. His entire crew went out on another mission on Oct 11, 1944 and was shot down by a Japanese fighter group. They were all killed in action as a result of the mission.

My father received an honorable discharge on Feb. 4, 1946 and the Remarks section read: Aviation Ordnance Man, first class, Asiatic Pacific, American Area Point System, Purple Heart, Air Crewman Insigna – 3 stars, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal.

My father went to college after the war and married my mother in September of 1947. He moved to Canton, Ohio in 1950 where he opened his own insurance adjusting company that employed over a dozen people. My father had 3 sons and truly lived the “American Dream” that he fought for. He passed away at the age of 79 in June of 2004. Our mother passed away on October 10, 2013 and he is survived by two of his sons who will always remember him as a hero.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Frederick Emsweller Jr.

Kenneth F Emsweller