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ORVILLE S. ETHIER
Born October 1, 1921, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Joined the United States Naval Reserve in October 1938. Military locations and stations were: World War II – USS Ward DD 139 (APD 16), January 1941-December, 1944; USNAS, Mayport, Florida; Korea, USS Chevalier (DDR 805), September 1950-October 1951. Served with the 7th Fleet. Discharged in October 1951 with the rank of Chief Machinist Mate. Participated in Pacific Campaigns including action at Pearl Harbor, consolidation of the Southern Solomon Islands, Bougainville Operation, Cape Glouster Occupation, Western New Guinea Operations and Leyte and Ormoc Bay Landings. Memorable experiences: USS Ward DD 139 firing first shot of US participation in World War II at Pearl Harbor, sinking the Japanese two-man submarine; sinking of the USS Ward three years later, on December 7, 1944, in Ormoc Bay, Philippines. Awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. Wife, Patricia Cavanagh; two sons, Steven Francis and Philip James and two grandchildren, Amanda and Elizabeth. Civilian employment, steamfitter Senior Heating and Piping Inspector, City of St. Paul. Ethier retired July 1, 1980.
Poem written by Orville S. Ethier, F2/C while on board the USS Ward DD 139 after the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941
We, your far off Navy sons,
Know of your worries and your fears
We realize we are the ones
For whom you prayed throughout the years.
We only hope and also pray
Your prayers are not in vain,
And on some not too distant day
We will sail home to you again.
Poem written by Orville S. Ethier, MM1/C, December 1943, while on board the USS Ward APD 16, in Purvis Bay next to Tulagi, across the channel from Guadalcanal
The APD’s
Anchored in a moonlit bay
Awaiting further orders,
Side by side, at ease they lay,
The fast transport destroyers.
Veterans of our global war,
They carry fighting Yanks.
Their troops are first to reach the shore
And face the yellow ranks.
Together with the LCI’s
And the chubby LST’s,
They bask beneath the southern skies
And sail the tropic seas.
Whenever there’s an isle to take,
The APD’s are ready.
But Admiral, for heaven’s sake,
Don’t make their work so steady.
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