Commander William Heavey is third generation professional military officer, with both his father and grandfather graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In this interview Commander Heavey describes growing up in a military family and attending the U.S. Naval Academy. He comments on service in the USS DICKERSON, conducting patrol and convoy duty in the Atlantic early in World War II, and reassignment to the USS ARKANSAS for the invasion of Casablanca. He further describes reporting to new construction with the USS HAINES (DE 792); duty in Europe and North Africa; an incident created by a violation of blackout conditions; duty in the USS MARYLAND during "Operation Magic Carpet" ; and service aboard the USS TOPEKA in Japan and China.
Commander William Francis Heavey, Jr., died May 30, 2007, at the age of 87 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Gift of William F. Heavey, Jr.
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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1930s-1940s