Help with info on friend's grandpa. USN

[GIZMO8Z]

Hello all!

Last night, my buddy and I got to talking about our grandparents and what they experienced during the war. I know a little bit about what my grandparents did, but he knows pretty much nothing. I'd like to see if anyone can help me find his grandpa's service record.

His grandpa's name was: Eugene Cordella from New York. All my buddy knows is that his grandpa was in the U.S. Navy.

He does have a picture of his grandpa on a ship, so I'll try to post that soon.

At the very least, I'd like to find his grandpa's serial number... maybe the name of a ship he served on.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!

[GIZMO8Z]

Here is the picture as promised. Sorry for the crap quality. Eugene Cordella is kneeling on the left without a cap.

[DasBoot]

I tried the national archives but could not find anything. Your buddy might be able to get more information if he makes an account on ancestry.com. I believe they offer a free trial for two weeks. I found a lot of information about my Grandfathers service there.
Jeremy

[Wagriff]

Eugene Joseph Cordella listed WWII Vet US Navy ID # 814 71 73 listed as rank of RM3 (Radio Man 3rd Class) born 6 Jun 1914 died 16 Oct 2003 Evergreen Cemetery Pine Plains, NY 12567. Ship Number LSM 66 as of Sept 6 1944 and LCI(L) 28 1 Jul 1945 until 1 Nov 1945 then LCI(M) 362 as of 1 Jan 1946

LSM 66 = Landing ship medium-commissioned on 6 September 1944, Ens. Rayond H. Brubaker, USN in command
During World War II LSM-66 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
Manila-Bicol operation;
(a) Zambales-Subic Bay operation, 29 to 31 January 1945
Consolidation of the southern Philippines;
(a) Palawan Island landings, 28 February 1945
(b) Visayan Island landings, 18 to 19 March, and 26 March to 1 April 1945
Decommissioned, 12 June 1946, at Terminal Island Navy Yard, San Pedro, CA.
Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
Final Disposition, sold, 10 March 1948, to Peter F. Bullen, San Diego, CA., fate unknown
LSM-66 earned two battle stars for World War II service

Eugene Joseph Cordella was on the LSM 66 and on the Naval muster rolls as of Sept 6 1944, so he was on the ship from the start. He is still listed as being on the same ship as of June 30,1945.
Here is a link to the ship info: note that there are 2 photos of it including one that shows the 2 bow doors having been blown off in a storm(must have been a beast of a storm!)
Landing Ship Medium LSM

He is next listed on the muster rolls as being on the LCI(L) 28 = Landing Craft, Infantry (Large) as of at least July 1,1945 until at Least January 1,1946.

Commissioned USS LCI(L)-28, 29 December 1942 During World War II LCI(L)-28 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in:
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
Eastern New Guinea operation
Lae occupation, 4 to 6 September 1943
Finschhafen occupation, 22 September 1943
Saidor occupation, 2 to 3 January 1944 Western New Guinea operation
Toem-Wakde-Salmi area operation, 17 May 1944
Biak Island operation, 27 to 1 June 1944
Noemfoor Island operation, 2 to 11 July 1944
Morotai landings, 15 September 1944
Bismarck Archipelago operation
Cape Gloucester, New Britain, 26 to 27 December 1943 Leyte operation
Leyte landings, 13 October to 20 November 1944
Hollandia operation
21 to 25 April 1944 .


Here is the link for this ship as well. There are 3 photos of it shown:
Landing Craft Infantry LCI

LCI(L)-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
Laid down, 15 June 1943, at George Lawley & Sons, Neponset, MA.
Launched, 16 July 1943
Commissioned USS LCI(L)-362, 26 July 1943
Designation changed to Landing Craft Infantry (Mortar) LCI(M)-363, 30 April 1945
During World War II USS LCI(L)-362 / LCI(M)-362 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
Eastern New Guinea operation
Saidor occupation, January 1944 Consolidation and capture of the southern Philippines
Palawan Islands landings, Puerto Princesa, 28 February to 7 March 1945
Mindanao Island landings, Zamboanga, 10 and 16 March 1945
Basilan Island, Sulu Archipelago, 16 March, 1945
Bongao Island, Tawi-Tawi Island group, 23 March 1945
Hollandia operation
21 to 25 April 1944 Manila Bay-Bicol operations
Nasugbu, 31 January to 2 February 1945
Western New Guinea operation
Biak Island operation, 27 May to 1 June 1944 Borneo operations
Tarakan Island operation, 27 April to 5 May 1945
Luzon operation
Lingayen Gulf landings, 4 to 18 January 1945 .


Decommissioned, date unknown
Struck from the Naval Register in 1946
Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 3 May 1948, for disposal
Final Disposition, fate unknown
USS LCI(L)-362 received seven battle stars for WWII service
The link for this ships specs is below. There are also 3 photos of this ship as well.
Landing Craft Infantry LCI

At any rate, this Should give you some good stuff to get started working on. It should be fairly straight to follow where these ships went from the dates and see what they got into! Good luck! William

[Eric Zentner]

You are a good man William for your time in this.

Eric

[Teutonicknights]

Wow

[GIZMO8Z]

Oh my god, William! Thank you!

Was it common for sailors to bump around from ship to ship like this?

[talltom]

wow willian that must have taken ages well done

tom

[GIZMO8Z]

wow willian that must have taken ages well done

tom

I am beyond words... Thank you William! My buddy will be so pleased. Is there anything I can do to repay you? Please do not hesitate to ask!

I have two more questions...

1. Can anyone venture to guess what ship/ type of ship my buddy's grandpa was on when that yellowish picture I posted was taken?

2. How were M1 helmets issued for sailors? Were they all issued their own individual helmets? Or was there just a stock of helmets around battle stations and the sailors would grab them and go?

[Wagriff]

During wartime, sailors would quite often get transferred from one ship to another. Depending on where they were needed, what type of ships were needed where and for what, etc. Depended also on the Condition of the ship, such as the one losing bow doors to storm damage, or who can say what battle damage they sustained in all the campaigns they were in. In peace time, sailors could pretty much call one ship home for the long haul.
Sailors were issued their own helmets, their own 45's, etc. Each had their own numbers and locker location. They kept none of this equipment in their personal lockers, though, but would report to the armory for them when needed, say, for target practice, drills, etc.
Type of ship in the photo? Unfortunately, no clue. It could be a deck scene from any number of ships - definitely in the tropics, though, from the wooden benches, sun shade awnings and Cordella not wearing a shirt! William