My Father's War
Bill Sharp
A son's tribute to his father's part in World War II

 

Norfolk and Shipping Out

In early 1944, he was sent to Greensboro, North Carolina and his new bride returned home anticipating his being shipped overseas. He then called saying that he would be in Greensboro for a few weeks, so Mom went there to stay in a rooming house. With the war secrecy ("Loose Lips Sink Ships"), they did not know where he would be shipped to. Here is a photo of the newlyweds in Tampa while Dad was still stationed at Mc Dill Field. Notice the Corporal stripes and the Army Airforce patch on his left sleeve.

This photo is labeled Greensboro, N.C., July - 44 on the back, less than a month before Corporal Sharp shipped out.

On August 30, 1944, he was shipped out of Norfolk, Virginia, not to arrive in India until October 7, 1944, a 38 day trip. Mom finally heard from him after about 40 days.

Interestingly, one of his granddaughters now serves in the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia.

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