textnormanduaneedwin1943.html

North High School Wall of Honor
Duane Edwin Norman
Class of June, 1943

Research done by Claradell Shedd, Class of 1953. PAGE IN PROGRESS

Duane Edwin Norman

Duane graduated in the June, 1943 North High class. He enlisted in the US Navy on December 8, 1943 in Des Moines, IA. His service number was 879-75-28. Duane's next of kin was listed as Gladys Norman at 4133 Second Avenue, Des Moines, IA.

Duane Edwin Norman

Year		Rank		Status

June, 1943		Graduated		Graduated from North High..
December 8 , 1943	x	Enlisted in US Navy	x	Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, IA
December 8, 1943 to July 1, 1944	x	Basic Training	x	San Diego Naval Training Center, NAVTRASTA
July 20, 1944- December 13, 1944	x	Schooling/Training	x	Landing Craft School, Coronado, CA
December 14, 1944- May 7, 1946	x	Enroute	x	USS Pickaway (APA-222) Radioman serving aboard during assault and occupation of Iwo Jima on March 6-16, 1946.
February 23, 1945	x	Enroute	x	Crossed 180th Meridian. Admitted to "Order of the Golden Dragon"
May 17, 1946	x	US Navy	x	Discharged. US Naval Personnel Separation Center, Minneapolis, MN
March 7, 1947	x	Family	x	Married Marjorie Ann Edwards
1947	x	Employment	x	Career in retailing; Ward Department Store, Younkers in Des Moines.
June, 1957	x	Employment	x	Formed Norman, McGeath and Associates
July 22, 1976	x	Civilian	x	Deceased; Hayes, Michigan

*USS Pickaway (APA 222)
Pickaway was laid down 1 September 1944, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCV hull 570, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, California; launched on 5 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William D. Schoning; converted into an APA; acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 12 December 1944, Commander Harry L. Bixby in command.

After shakedown and amphibious exercises at Coronado Beach, California, Pickaway embarked some 1,500US Army troops at Seattle, Washington, departed on 9 February, arrived Pearl Harbor on 16 February, disembarked the troops and headed for Iwo Jima to evacuate Marine forces who were finishing off the remaining Japanese forces on the island. Pickaway reached Iwo Jima on 14 March, received on board the 24th Marine Regiment, sailed on 20 March, and returned to Pearl Harbor on 5 April.[3]

Pickaway participated in amphibious exercises until sailing for Guam on 4 May, with military passengers. Arriving Guam on 17 May, she embarked soldiers, sailors, and Marines; departed Apra Harbor on 22 May; and arrived San Francisco on 7 June.[3]

On 2 July she took on board Navy and US Coast Guard passengers and departed San Francisco for Noumea, New Caledonia. Following disembarking of personnel in Noumea on 8 July, Pickaway steamed to Espiritu Santo, the Russell Islands, and Guadalcanal to pick up passengers and sailed on 23 July, for San Francisco where she arrived on 6 August.[3]

While preparing for another transpacific voyage, the ship learned of the end of hostilities. During the remainder of 1945, Pickaway shuttled back and forth across the Pacific embarking passengers at bases in the western Pacific and returning them to the United States.


Insignia and photo of USS Pickaway (APA-222)

Landed at Red Sector near Mt. Suribachi

February 19, 1945

USS Pickaway; APA-222 Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (6)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (4) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (6)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Duane Edwin Norman Radioman; Third Class; V-6 United States Navy

Victory Medal; American Theater Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal

References

(1) Information was obtained from the Records on Military Personnel Who Died, were Missing in Action, or Prisoners of War as a result of the Vietnam War. This document can be found online at the National Archives and Records Administration at http://www.archives.gov/.

(2) The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of North High School graduates can be found online at: http://www.ndmhs.com/. Duane Edwin Norman's 1943 class page is: http://www.ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1943(2008.65).html.

Died 07/22/76; Hayes, Charlevoix, Michigan, USA.

Music: "Anchors Aweigh"