"Hershey" died 14 Nov 2003 at Salisbury, Wicomico Co., MD. He was born 2 May 1921 at Charleroi, Washington Co., PA. and lived in Fayette Co., PA, where his siblings were born. Hershey was preceded in death by his wife Doris Mae (Gillis) and a son Thomas, and is survived by two daughters Jenny and Linda. Of all the World War II movies I've seen detailing naval operations in the South Pacific and Europe, I've often wondered how they somehow missed Hershey. He served a long and very distingusihed career in the U.S. Navy, and was buried with impressive military honors at Allen, MD. After his father Joseph S. Honsaker died, the family moved from Fayette Co. to Los Angeles. Hershey enlisted there 1940 and was assigned to the cruiser USS Chicago. He became interested in aviation and was transferred to Pearl Harbor for duty, where he then flew PBY Catalinas. He was there when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. He participated in raids on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the Battle of Midway. During the first strike on Midway in June 1942 his plane was shot down by Japanese Zeroes. He rode a life raft for two days before being picked up by the USS Monahan. He witnessed the sinking of the carrier Yorktown and the destroyer Hannah on June 7th. In August that year he participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulaggi, and the Solomon Islands in Sept. In the Battle of Steward Island in Oct. 1942 he was again shot down by Zeroes and was picked up by the destroyer Barton. The remnants of squadrons VP 11, 23, and 24 were regrouped and formed VP 103, to fly Liberator bombers. Hershey served in the Battle of Briton with them. His bomber was credited with the sinking of a German destroyer off the coast of France though the bomber was severely damaged by cannon fire; Hershey survived the crash landing. He was then assigned to the training of aircrewman and later survived a "spin-in" crash. Upon release from the hospital, he was assigned to rest and rehabilition in AZ for the remainder of World War II. He served with several other squadrons at various locations until the end of his 30 years service. By retirement, Lt. Commander Herschel Honsaker had amply earned many service and campaign ribbons and honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy Commendation Medal, Air Medal with 4 stars, Asiatic/Pacific Medal with 7 stars, and others. Thank you Hershey, and may the Lord protect you and yours.