Jonathan-Claire - Person Sheet
Jonathan-Claire - Person Sheet
NamePRESLEY, James Clarence “Babe” 
, 1C4R
, 1C4RBirth Date31 Jan 1921
Birth PlaceDecatur, DeKalb County, Georgia
Death Date12 Dec 2005 Age: 84
Death PlaceSnellville, Gwinnett County, Georgia
FatherPRESLEY, Paul Epson (1890-1979)
MotherIRVINE, Virginia Grace (1900-1973)
Misc. Notes
Shortly after Pearl Harbor “Babe” and his buddy Jack Clemmons joined the Navy.
Babe was sent to Anti-Submarine Warfare School in Miami, Florida. He was assigned to the USS PC 1226 which was Commissioned in Louisiana. There they set sail and started escorting convoys from South America to the U S. Their home port was Staten Island.
Babe was a Navigation Communications Sailor QM 1c. His "Battle Station" was the helmsman.
1943 they sailed to the Mediterranean, first Africa, then Sicily, then Salerno, Italy. The PC 1226 participated in several invasions then finally France in 1944. At one point they were reported "lost at sea" until they returned to their port. Once France was invaded the U S Navy gave the PC 1226 to the French Navy.
Babe returned to the "States," New Port News RI. He enjoyed a 30 day leave and visited home. Then went to Galveston Tx. Where he was assigned to the USS Gratia, AKS 11. Once commissioned the Gratia set sail for the Pacific. She went through the Panama Canal and on to the South Pacific, New Guinea, the Philippines. Once Okinawa fell they were gearing up for the invasion of Japan. She was in Manila Bay when they got word of the Atomic Bomb raids on Japan.
The war ended. Babe decided he had had enough of the military and war experience. He had been in long enough to be discharged. So, he left the "Gratia" in Manila Bay and returned to the "States" through Portland Or. From there he traveled by troop train to Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Fl where he was discharged.
Babe was sent to Anti-Submarine Warfare School in Miami, Florida. He was assigned to the USS PC 1226 which was Commissioned in Louisiana. There they set sail and started escorting convoys from South America to the U S. Their home port was Staten Island.
Babe was a Navigation Communications Sailor QM 1c. His "Battle Station" was the helmsman.
1943 they sailed to the Mediterranean, first Africa, then Sicily, then Salerno, Italy. The PC 1226 participated in several invasions then finally France in 1944. At one point they were reported "lost at sea" until they returned to their port. Once France was invaded the U S Navy gave the PC 1226 to the French Navy.
Babe returned to the "States," New Port News RI. He enjoyed a 30 day leave and visited home. Then went to Galveston Tx. Where he was assigned to the USS Gratia, AKS 11. Once commissioned the Gratia set sail for the Pacific. She went through the Panama Canal and on to the South Pacific, New Guinea, the Philippines. Once Okinawa fell they were gearing up for the invasion of Japan. She was in Manila Bay when they got word of the Atomic Bomb raids on Japan.
The war ended. Babe decided he had had enough of the military and war experience. He had been in long enough to be discharged. So, he left the "Gratia" in Manila Bay and returned to the "States" through Portland Or. From there he traveled by troop train to Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Fl where he was discharged.
Spouses
Birth Date7 Jun 1925
Birth PlaceAtlanta, Dekalb County, Georgia
Death Date22 Jan 1983 Age: 57
Death PlaceDecatur, DeKalb County, Georgia
Marr Date4 Apr 1946
Marr PlaceConyers, Rockdale County, Georgia
ChildrenJohn Robert (1955-1993)