Brownlow Family Jeff Deen Brownlow 1925 - 2016 At 17 years of age JD joined Navy on May 5th 1943. JD's service number was 357-44-91. (Apprentice Seaman) AS V-6 He went to boot camp at Corpus Christy Texas as a Seaman 1st Class V6. May 17th 1943 to June 8th 1943. JD was promoted to Seaman 2nd Class on June 2nd, 1943. After boot camp JD went to Norman Oklahoma on June 8th 1943, attending AOM School, NATTC for Ordnance training in Class A Service School (14 weeks). June 11th 1943 to Sept 18th 1943. Upon completion of Ordnance training JD was assigned as of Sept 24th 1943, to ComFAir, Sand Point Naval Air station in Seattle, Washington. Sept 28th 1943 assigned to Carrier Aircraft Unit (CASU) 7. 21 guys were to go on Enterprise but Dad was given town liberty and was left behind. Then on the next movement he was on 72 hour pass so got left behind again. During this time he worked in the kitchen. Feb 1st 1944 JD was promoted to Aviation Ordinance Man (AOM) 3rd Class. AOM 3 Class to AOM 2 Class (T) July 1st 1944. April 6th 1944 JD transferred by train to Point Mugu, Hueneme, Calif(LA). Here they created a group (about 1100 men) for CASU (f) 44 which had been activated Feb 22, 1944. www.casu44.com Tribute website to the men that served in CASU44. April 22th 1944 embarked from Continental US shipping out for Kaneohe Bay Naval air station, Hawaii. JD left 2 days before the main ship on a coast guard cutter with 185 men plus the ship's crew. They arrived April 30th, a week or two after the main ship. (Met Ted Sailor at Kaneohe). Spent 7 weeks at Kaneohe, Hi. (KNAS). June 1st 1944 serving outside continental US. June 28th 1944 Crossed international dateline. June 30th 1944 Seaman 1st Class (AOM). July 1944 CASU 44 was assign to Oahu Left Hawaii for Tinian in the Marshall Islands. Crossed the international date line on Christmas day 1944. Participate in the occupation and garrison of Island designated as Navy No, 3247, August 10, 1944. Entitled to wear Asiatic-Pacific campaign ribbon. Spent 6 weeks waiting for the invasion fleet to invade the Marianas then waited two weeks for the Marines to secure the islands. JD was station on Tinian Island in Aug 1944 and was there to the end of war. Sometimes some of the men would go out and help set up new CASU's for a week at a time. JD became real good friend with Ted Saylor. Ted was a shudder-bug and was taking and developing lots of pictures. JD's camp was about 1 to 1.5 miles from the B29 base where "the bomb" was delivered. JD worked on F4Fs F6Fs (carrier fighter planes) and did work on some Corsairs on the land base carrier support group. JD's team also loaded bombers, B-24s and B-29s, with bombs and depth charges. Jan 30th 1945 awarded Marianas Operations Star. Entitled to wear operations star on Asiatic Pacific campaign ribbon as a member of CASU (F) 44 which participated in the Marianas operation prior to limiting date of August 27th 1944. Jun 30th 1945 AOM 3 Class July 1945 WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL Transferred to Commander Fleet Air West Coast, Alameda, Calif, Oct 31st 1945. Captain's Mast Sept 27, 1945; A Capt. mast was convened this date for the purpose of making a record of your commendable performance. "The commanding officer takes pleasure in commending you for unusual devotion to duty, for you display of good judgment, initiative in performing your work which has materially contributed to the smoothness and efficiency with which your department has functioned." JD came back to the states landing at San Francisco. JD reported to NAS , Mojave, California then began authorized leave starting Nov 27, 1945. After 30 days leave plus 4 days travel time JD transferred to Camp Wallace, Texas on Dec 31st 1945. Reported Jan 4th 1946 Navy Recruiting Station, Dallas Texas. Jan 15th 1946 Transferred to Pitchless Aircraft Unit Marine Corps Air Station, Mojave, Calif. On Feb 21st, 1946 at USNPSC Camp Wallace and was discharged as Aviation Ordnance Man Second Class March 7th 1946 and went back to Waco, Texas. At 91 years of age JD broke his hip. He knew without an operation he would not survive. He made it through the surgery and all vitals were good but he was unable to overcome the combination of pain meds and anesthesia. He died on September 30, 2016.