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William
Simerl Rank
Petty Officer 1st Class Dates of Service
1942 - 1946 |
Branch of Service
Navy War(s) / Conflicts
WWII and Pacific |
Petty Officer 1st Class - Master Electrician. William J. Simerl - aka Bill, graduated from Boys Technology and Trade School in 1941, by electing to attend training for an extra year, he developed his skill as an electrician. He answered the call of his country, by joining the Navy in 1942 where he was assigned to the USS Burns a Naval Destroyer. His training and skill earned him the position of Electrician/Petty Officer 1st class aboard the ship. Between 1942-1946 the crew of the Burns took part in 32 nsyyles, its mission participated as an anti/submarine escort, picket ship, fighter director ship and an air craft rescue ship. Our dad and crew's history while on the USS Burns, reads like a story of the American offensive in the Pacific. From the first major carrier raid on the Wake Islands in 1943, to the final Japanese surrender in 1945. Dad and the crew participated in almost every major operation. She logged 250,000 miles, which would be equivalent to 10 troops around the world. At age 38, William was offered a position as the Chief Electrician of all the Milwaukee Public Schools, where he retained this position until retiring. William passed in 1996.
