Join me as we celebrate America and honor the men and women who have died serving our country. My family is a Navy family and have served with distinction and honor. Today's post will honor my great Uncle William Merrill Corry, Jr.
This information is from the Naval History Page here.
This information is from the Naval History Page here.
Lieutenant Commander William M. Corry, Jr., USN (1889-1920) William Merrill Corry, Jr. was born on 5 October 1889 at Quincy, Florida. Admitted to the the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1906, he graduated in 1910 and spent the next five years serving in the battleship Kansas. In mid-1915, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Corry began instruction in aviation at Pensacola, Florida, and was designated Naval Aviator # 23 in March 1916. He had a flying positions with the armored cruiser Seattle between November 1916 and May 1917, then was an officer in the armored cruiser North Carolina.
In August 1917, Lieutenant Corry began World War I service in France, where he commanded Naval Air Stations at La Croisic and Brest during 1918 and early 1919. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in July 1918. Corry remained in France for the rest of 1919 and the first half of 1920, involved in removing U.S. Naval Aviation forces from Europe as part of the post-war demobilization. In mid-1920 Lieutenant Commander Corry was assigned as aviation aide to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, stationed on the Fleet's flagship, USS Pennsylvania.
While on a flight from Long Island, New York, with another pilot in early October 1920, the plane crashed near Hartford, Connecticut. Though thrown clear of the wreckage, the injured Corry ran back to pull the other officer free of the flaming aircraft. Badly burned during this rescue, William M. Corry died at Hartford on 7 October 1920. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during that accident.
Airfields at Pensacola, Florida, and three destroyers have been named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Corry. The ships are: USS Corry (DD-334) of 1921-1930, USS Corry (DD-463) of 1941-1944, and USS Corry (DD-817) of 1946-1981.
Patriotism was instilled in us at an early age. I made America the Beautiful in homage to my family and all the other men and women who have served so valiantly and honorably.
Thanks to CT member Stephanie for this great QP! Download it HERE.
Be sure to stop by my blog for another freebie.
America the Beautiful Collection is on sale for 25% off through Memorial Day.
1 comment:
(I left this comment on your blog also, but I wasn't sure which one you might read.) Thanks also for the pretty QP.
Amanda, thanks for the pretty kit and for sharing about your great uncle. My husband is a retired Marine aviator, and we started out our married life and his flight school in Pensacola in January 1966. So our uncle's name and the airfield and ships are familiar to me. How nice to put someone I "know" with his face and name. How proud you must be of him and your heritage!
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