James J. Storey

• Chief Petty Officer
• Served: April 1942 – December 10, 1945
• World War II
• Gunners Mate
• Awarded: Good Conduct Medal & Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal

Deceased November 22, 1965. Interred at Beverly National Cemetery, NJ.

James Justin Storey, born November 9, 1913, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and living at 3029 Ridge Avenue, enlisted in the U. S. Navy 26 September 1942 for a two year period.  At the time of enlistment he was living with his parents, Roland and Mary Storey and he was employed at the S.K.F. Ball Bearing Company in Philadelphia as an inspector.  He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 172 pounds.

James had an 8th grade education, having attended Most Precious Blood School in Philadelphia.  He enjoyed sports and was a semi-pro baseball player for 5 years.  He left school in 1929.

He reported to the U. S. Training School in Great Lakes, Illinois in November 1942 for a 16 week course to be a Gunners Mate.  He completed this schooling 15 March 1943 with a 94.8% mark, graduating 7th in a class of 240.  He then reported to U.S. Naval Training School in Farragut, Idaho for further training, completing the 5/38 Cal. Single Mount course with an average mark of 90.3% standing 18th in a class of 254.

James served on two destroyers during his Naval experience, the USS Barton DD722, for a seven month period 30 December 1943, and the USS Boyle DD600, beginning 8 December 1944, from which he was discharged on 10 December 1945.  While serving on the USS Boyle , James participated in the bombardment and mine sweeping operations (for which he was commended by the commanding officer for his performance of duty) in the French-Italian area for 14 – 31 January 1945 and from 15 February 1945 to 3 March 1945.  On 1 August 1945, he participated in the bombardment of Wake Island, often referred to as the “Alamo of the Pacific”.