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GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- World War II veteran and Battle of
Midway survivor, Mr. Joe Sanes, Wilmette, Ill., became an honorary
graduate of Recruit Training Command (RTC) here at Naval Station
Great Lakes, more than 70 years after enlisting in the Navy, June
14, 2013.
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GREAT LAKES, Ill. (June 14, 2013) - World War II Navy veteran and Battle of Midway survivor Joe Sanes becomes an honorary boot camp graduate and shakes hands with Capt. John Dye, commanding officer of Recruit Training Command, in the USS Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall at Recruit Training Command. Sanes, who enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 14, 1941, never completed boot camp at Great Lakes because of the Pearl Harbor attack and America's entrance into the war. Sanes, along with other recruits, was immediately assigned orders. Sanes was ordered to the USS Hammann (DD 412). Dye recognized and presented Sanes with his graduation certificate at the weekly pass-in-review graduation. (U.S. Navy photo by Scott A. Thornbloom)
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Sanes enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 14, 1941, and attended
boot camp at Great Lakes. However, after the bombing of
Pearl Harbor, four weeks into boot camp, Sanes was
immediately assigned to the destroyer USS Hammann (DD 412).
He never graduated.
During the Pass-In-Review (PIR)
recruit graduation ceremony, Capt. John Dye, commanding
officer of RTC, recognized Sanes' service, presented him with an honorary
graduation certificate and designated him an honor graduate
of the PIR.
"When we say the Sailor's Creed, when we
say the words 'I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy
and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and
democracy around the world,' we are talking about men like
Mr. Joe Sanes," said Dye to the new Sailors their friends
and family members.
During the ceremony, nine
divisions comprised of 701 Sailors, or 702 including Sanes,
graduated from RTC, the Navy's only boot camp. The ceremony
was attended by more than 1,500 friends and family,
including Libby Sanes, Joe's wife of 65 years.
"After
72 years, I am proud and happy to be a part of this
graduation," said Joe. "The Sailors today are better looking
than the Sailors of my time. I was impressed with what I saw
today. I am sure the graduations back in 1941 wouldn't have
been anywhere close to this."
Joe was aboard Hammann
during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Hammann helped rescue
more than 500 Sailors from the crippled USS Lexington (CV
2). On June 6, 1942 during the battle of Midway, Hammann was
assisting USS Yorktown (CV 5) recovery after the carrier had
been damaged during the battle. While participating in a
defensive screen of Yorktown, Hammann was struck by a
torpedo from a Japanese submarine and sank in less than four
minutes. Seventy-nine enlisted crew members died along with
10 of the 14 officers.
"My battle station was on the
port side, I saw the torpedoes coming at the ship. I was in
water up to my ankles by the time I got to the deck," said
Joe. "Most of the casualties came when the Hammann exploded
underwater after she sank. I was lucky. The survivors are
not the heroes. The real heroes are the ones who never came
back."
Joe also took part in the Solomon Islands
Campaign, the Aleutian Islands Campaign, and the Mariana
Islands Campaign, before receiving an honorable discharge on
Nov. 14, 1947.
"The first thing the Navy Taught me
was discipline," said Joe. "It's very important in battle.
Everyone has to be coordinated; everyone has to do their
job. Without discipline there will be failure."
Sanes
participates in speaking engagements throughout the country
educating the public, ensuring the legacy of Naval heritage,
and honoring his fallen shipmates.
RTC is overseen by
Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), commanded by Rear
Admiral Dee L. Mewbourne. RTC trains more than 35,000
volunteers annually, transforming civilians into basically
trained Sailors.
By Naval Service Training Command Public Affairs
Navy News Service
Copyright 2013
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