Josh Henrichs

Mason Jones

Josh Henrichs

Period 4

Hocking US History

James Ellington

US NAVY

1945-1954

2016

Born in 1927, James Ellington grew up in a farm family in his home state of Indiana. Initially aiming to work as a farmerwith his uncle after graduating from High School, Ellington would alter these plans in favor of assisting the US military in the Second World War, along with many other youth from his hometown. “The general mindset of the United States during WWII was to enlist and get the war over with…” commented Ellington on his enlistment, as well as the enlistment of his peers. And so, James Ellington would enlist at the age of eighteen in the year 1945, right after finishing High School, as a member of the United States Navy on the Pacific Coast during the war, preferring the course of action the Navy was taking during the war over the Army. From there, Ellington would attend Boot Camp for three months in Sampson, New York, where in which he would learn the strict discipline of the military.

World War II would eventually end with Ellington still in Boot Camp. “Some of the vets here went through hell,” said Ellington, “but I didn’t. Could have been, but I wasn’t.” Nevertheless,Ellington was assigned as a member of the “Clean-up Crew” for the pacific end of the war. During this time Ellington would travel to the ravaged Japan to assist in its reconstruction. The Japanese people surprisingly accepted their assistance, offering very little opposition, though according to Ellington himself “the atomic bomb had broken their spirits.” During this time James would assist in work parties on the shores of Japan. Ellington was eventually sent back to the US after fourteen months of service, though also signed up for the US Naval Reserves for a nine year period. Ellington then took advantage of the US G.I. Bill, which paid for all educational expenses for US Veterans. Ellington would study Chemical Engineering for around two years, at which the same time his benefits from the GI bill had ended. This would be followed by Ellington being called back to the US Navy to assist in the Korean War in 1951.

James would serve in the Korean War for fifteen months on the USS Badoeng Strait, a small aircraft carrier. Here James would spend his time as aboilerman 3rd class in the forward fireroom of the ship. Ellington’s ship operated off the coast of North Korea. Upon their first sortie after entering the war zone for the first time, pilot Captain James Schwartz was shot down. “That type of thing probably won’t ever leave my mind.” Said Ellington when asked about the subject. Ellington would, all the while, stay in touch with his family upon the ship by letter, although most mail would only come in every three or four months.

In 1954, James’ second term of enlistment had come to a close. Ellington opted to not sign up for another nine years in service. Ellington would meet a woman with family in Alaska. James would meet a woman in 1952. Her father was stationed in the US NAVY in Kodiak, Alaska. After James was released from active duty, both would go to Kodiak, where she and Ellington were married. Here in Kodiak they would have their first son. After this, the new Ellington family would move back to James’ home state of Indiana, where they would have a daughter three years later. At the age of 40, James and his wife would opt to move their family to California, where they still live today. Ironically enough, there James began taking night school classes for Mechanical Engineering, and would earn a degree in this field at the age of 51, many years after his initial attempt at earning a degree. Now, James Ellington lives happily with his wife here in Southern California.

Overall, Ellington found his time in the Navy to be a positive experience. With it, Ellington gained a worthwhile set of discipline and rules to live by, providing him with many life lessons. “I believe all young men should join the service,” said Ellington, “just to get that sense of discipline.” What’s more, Ellington’s experience with WWII taught him of the unity the United States was capable of, something that is painstakingly missing in the modern day. During his enlistment, the entire United States had a general mindset: end the war. The country was united to bring an end to the conflict it was faced with, and this unity helped the country grow. Yet today, the people of the United States bicker over the most trivial of topics. Long gone are the days where the United States were truly united, as made apparent by the views of James Ellington himself. Nonetheless, Ellington is an honorable man who managed to dive into his service to this country and come out with a changed perspective. Without the service of people like him, this country wouldn’t be the same.