Raymond Gannon

Raymond Gannon

Raymond Gannon was born November 18, 1927 in Providence, Rhode Island and upon discharge from the Navy, lived in Baltimore, Maryland before moving to Danbury, Connecticut. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy and served two tours from 1944 to 1948 and from 1950 to 1954. In August, 1945 when WWII ended, he was an Interior Communications Electrician, 3rd Class aboard the USS Pensacola, CA-24. They were staging on the West Coast in preparation for the Invasion of Japan in November, 1945. While aboard the USS Pensacola, he was among the Occupational Forces sent to Japan. In July, 1946, he was part of the skeleton crew aboard the USS Pensacola when it participated in Operation Crossroads...a series of nuclear weapons tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll. The crew watched the tests from other ships that were out to sea but then returned to the USS Pensacola after both tests were completed to evaluate what systems were damaged. They then prepared her for towing so that she could be scuttled in Puget Sound off the coast of Washington State. While serving in his second tour of duty Ray was promoted to Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class. Ray's ship was part of a Mediterranean Tour and he and his shipmates were fortunate to have an Audience with Pope Pius XII. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, American Area Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Medal, and the Occupation China Medal.

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