Charles Roberge

On October 11th 1942, with the reluctant permission of his parents, 17 year old Charlie joined the U.S. Navy. Immediately following Boot Camp in Newport R.I., he started his first duty on board the cruiser, U.S.S. SAVANNAH, on May 10th, 1943.

Their first mission was protecting troop transports on their way to North Africa. Next they prepared for “Operation Husky”. The SAVANNAH provided fire support for the 1st Infantry Rangers landing on the coast of Sicily.

On September 10th 1943, off the coast of Algiers, the SAVANNAH was attacked by a German radio controlled “glide bomb”. She lost 206 men in this action, and limped into Malta for emergency repairs on September 12th. After repairs were made the SAVANNAH headed for Philadelphia, arriving Dec. 23rd, 1943.

Most of the crew, including Charlie, were transferred to the USS ALASKA, a new “Large Battle Cruiser”. The ALASKA was part of a small group given the mission of protecting the USS SARATOGA and the USS ENTERPRISE as they entered Tokyo Bay to launch night attacks against airfields and other military targets surrounding Tokyo.

The ALASKA played a vital roll in the Pacific theater. She came under frequent Kamikaze attack, supported the invasion of Iwo Jima, and several other Japanese held islands, as well as a sweep of the East China Sea.

Charlie was in “E” division. He recalls that not all the Japanese got the message that the war was over, because most nights that the ship was in Buckner Bay (between Okinawa and Le Shima) they were attacked. One of these planes dropped a torpedo that struck the USS PENNSYLVANIA, not a thousand yards away from them.

After the war, Charlie returned to Maine.

Henry Michaud

Henry Michaud served in the Air Force and had basic training at Sampson Air Force Base in New York. He had training in telecommunications at Warren Air Base in Wyoming. After this he was stationed to a remote duty on the Alaskan peninsula for 15 months. Returning to Pease Air Force Base to work in the Strategic Air Command. He left the service at the height of the cold war in 1958 and went to work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Leo Gordon

Leo Gordon was a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. Often called “the forgotten war”, the Korean conflict was the first test of world powers in the post WW II, Atomic era. This was a critical test of America and the newly formed United Nations. Leo returned to civilian life after his two year tour of duty.

Steven D. Travis

Steven D. Travis was a hospital corpsman in the mid 1960’s while the Vietnam War was active. Primarily he was stationed at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital. This hospital has cared for the sick and wounded of the Navy since 1830. Many of the P.O.W’s returning at the end of the Vietnam War, were cared for here.

Robert Joyal

Robert Joyal was a Navy Seaman and after the war he returned to the seacoast. He worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for 28 years. He and his wife Gale have been married for 46 years and are very proud of their two children, five grand children, and 1 great grand child (so far!).

Our own Mildred tells us of the rationing she remembers, not being able to get simple things like butter, sugar, meat, or gas for the car. A time when you needed to remember your ration book when you went to the store, and neighbors getting together and combining supplies to make a birthday cake for a child. These are things most of us can’t even imagine today, having to “do without”. She tells us of all the handsome men in uniforms at the train station! Everyone was affected in some way, and victory was a common unifying goal.

These are a few of our many retired Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers, veterans, and friends. We are proud to serve them at Med-tec Hearing Labs. We would love to hear from you as well.