Read the first-hand D-Day account of
Owen Keylon,
Electrician's Mate, 2nd class, USS Corry (DD-463)

Read the first-hand D-Day account of
Everett Dale Howard
Quartermaster, 1st class,  USS Corry (DD-463)

(*Awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic service*)

Read the first-hand D-Day account of
Paul N. Garay
Officer,  USS Corry (DD-463)  (Excerpts)

(*Awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism in combat*)

View the D-Day Navy Cross Citation for
Lieutenant (jg) John Oliver Parrot
Officer,  USS Corry (DD-463)

(*Awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in combat*)

No D-Day account available.

Below are remarks by family and friends of USS Corry shipmates.

Richard Andersen      (email: Richard.Andersen@childrenshc.org)

I am the son of Dr. Howard Andersen, who was the ship’s doctor and a survivor of the sinking of the U.S.S. Corry on D-Day.  My dad has written a memoir of the events for the Dept. of Navy and has in recent years attended the reunions of the shipmates that take place every autumn.  His recounting of events is an interesting saga that I know he would be happy to send to you.  The gatherings of these men have been remarkable and unique, and I have had the privilege of attending all that my dad has attended. The uniqueness beyond the fact of being war buddies I think derives in large measure from the sudden destruction of their floating residence, the immediate relocation of the survivors to various other sites, and the profound emotion of reconnection decades after the fact. Several with whom I have spoken describe their awareness of impending death as they were in the third hour of floating in the freezing water. They have lived with the gusto of people given a second chance at life, and have savored reuniting with their mates.

I share Tom Brokaw’s assessment of this generation. As I tell my children, the hinge on which the entire 20th century turns is World War II, and the pivotal event of that war is D-Day. To get a glimpse of the heroic and sacrificial essence of this generation, look carefully at D-Day.

Lois Hoffman

On June 6, 1980, I went back to Normandy with my late husband, George Hoffman, who was captain of the USS Corry when it sank on D-Day. We went with some of the Corry crewmen out on a minesweeper to drop flowers in the water over the actual ship, and that was quite an experience. And they had brought the old flag, which had been all shot up. It was an occasion that you just wouldn’t believe.

Phyllis Fiordelisi

When we took our first trip to Normandy in 1980, my husband had a very moving experience. At a museum there, he found a dog tag he made when he was an electrician aboard the USS Corry.  But he left in a locker when the ship went down on June 6, 1944, and many years later, divers brought it back up. The people at the museum told him he could take it home, but he decided to leave it.  He never really told me much about what happened the morning the ship was lost, but it had an impact on him. Every Memorial Day, he would go to church and write the "Lost men of the USS Corry" on a mass card.

Although he has been gone for 15 years, I still attend the Corry reunions every year because we are a very tight-knit group. And it’s very encouraging to see all the sons, daughters, and grandchildren who come. I hope that they will stay interested because I think it’s important for them understand what this event meant to their fathers and mothers.

Carolyn Fogg    (email: rexfogg@yahoo.com)

My husband, Dan was just over 1 year old on June 6, 1944. His mother got the telegram on June 17th while she was visiting her family in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Dan’s father, Dana Fogg was missing and presumed killed. Hazel, Dan’s mother really didn’t know much about what happened and for years they presumed that most of the crew had been killed. I met him in 1966 and one of the first things he told me was about his father. Life stayed the same until 1985 when his mother passed away and that is when we discovered the trunk in the attic. This trunk contained all of his dad’s letters, all of the correspondence from the Navy, including the telegram and a letter from Captain Hoffman. That indeed was a great find. The letters gave us insight into what Dana was like and they also told us what he thought about his little boy.

The next big breakthrough was in 1990 when we found out about the reunions of the U.S.S Corry. Meeting the crew and receiving all of the information about what happened, has given new meaning to our lives and in particular has helped Dan to deal with never getting to know his father. This wonderful group of people, this Corry family, has opened their hearts to us. I always knew we could not have changed what happened on June 6, 1944, but with meeting this wonderful group of people, we didn’t have to let Dana’s memory die.

Andrea Grosso      (email: grosso@stargate.net)

My dad, John Vozel, was a sailor during WWII and was on the destroyer, USS Corry DD-463. His ship was sunk on D-Day when it hit a mine. Fortunately, my dad was in the Naval hospital with pneumonia at the time so he was not on the ship. The sailor that was at his battle station did not survive. For about 20 years my parents have been going to the annual reunion of the men who served on this ship. I started going with them 4 years ago when my dad was unable to drive and I hosted a reunion in Washington, PA in 2000, which is where I live. Words cannot express the feeling one gets from being in the presence of these courageous men. The camaraderie that exists among them is so strong and long-lasting. At each reunion they hold a memorial service to remember, by name, the 24 men by name who died when the ship was hit. I'm so glad that our nation is finally honoring the great men and women who served during WWII. It's sad that it took so long and that so many of those who survived aren't here to be acknowledged.

Bertrand SCIBOZ     (email: bertrand.sciboz@ceresm.com)

Hello, i am the french underwater explorer who found the first, the rest of USS Corry, and work with NGS (National Geographic Society) on the article. I was the first as well who found, and dove on the YMS 304. One of my old friend fisherman here, was there when the YMS hit a mine, and he rescued two people floatting on a part of the wreck. One of those soldier was a very strong man and he had his back broken during the explosion. My old friend would be very pleased to find if anyone got information about this man. Anyway if i can help any survivors or veterans, send me an email, it will be a pleasure.

Bertrand SCIBOZ