John STANSBERRY to be honored for WWII service

STANSBERRY, ADAM

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/23/2009 at 19:07:49

"The Fairfield Ledger", Wednesday, May 20, 2009, front page

STANSBERRY to be honored for WWII military service

By Sara Rhum
Ledger Lifestyles editor

Area resident John STANSBERRY, a veteran of World War II, will be presented a flag formerly flown over the United States Capitol Building at 2 p.m. Friday at the SunnyBrook Living Care Center to honor his years of military service.

STANSBERRY was born in Libertyville and was a graduate of Libertyville High School. He was in the Navy for 25 years, and it was a career he thoroughly enjoyed. He began as a radio man, later became a pilot and few reconnaissance for the USS West Virginia. He was aboard the ship Dec. 7, 1941, in Pearl Harbor when the naval base was attacked.

When the damaged ship began sinking, STANSBERRY carried men from below deck to the topside where they were taken to a hospital on shore. When the ship was almost submerged, he managed to evacuate the ship and swim to Ford Island even though the top of the water was on fire due to spilled oil.

"We had to learn how to swim in burning water," he said. "My hair was singed off, but I didn't receive any burns that are worth speaking about."

STANSBERRY had been flying in his seaplane prior to the attack and witnessed two-man midget submarines in the area. He reported the sighting, but said his warnings were ignored.

"I just don't understand why they didn't investigate what we saw," he said.

In 1943, STANSBERRY attended Lighter Than Air School in California. During his time in the military, he received education from several sources, including the University of Hawaii.

"All the time he was in the service he went to school," said STANSBERRY's daughter Andra ADAM.

STANSBERRY retired from the military in 1955, but continued as a pilot by flying blimps.

"He always said he retired from the Navy, but never really retired from being a chief," ADAM said.

Friends and family are invited to attend STANSBERRY's flag presentation ceremony.

Milford Wonderlich, a resident of SunnyBrook, contacted government official in Des Moines to begin the process of getting a flag to present to STANSBERRY.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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"The Fairfield Ledger", Wednesday, May 27, 2009, Page 3

(Click on link below for photo)

Lane Bush presented John STANSBERRY with a flag formerly flown above the United States Capitol Building in a ceremony Friday at SunnyBrook Assisted Living. STANSBERRY was aboard the USS Virginia when it was bombed in Pearl Harbor.

John STANSBERRY flag presentation photo
 

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