Charles Frederick Hussey

Wartime Heritage ASSOCIATION

Remembering World War II

Name: Charles Frederick Hussey Rank: Ship’s Cook First Class Service Number: 2022170 Service: US Navy Date of Birth: July 3, 1921 Place of Birth: Aylesford, Kings Co., NS Date of Enlistment: 1942-1943 Place of Enlistment: Massachusetts Marital Status: Single (at enlistment) Religion: Roman Catholic Date of Death: August 1, 1945 Age: 24 Cemetery: Saint Mary Our Mother Cemetery, Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY Grave: Plot 6 Charles Frederick Hussey was the son of Charles Dennis Hussey (1892-1967) and Marguerite Grace (Cashman) Hussey (b. 1900). His mother was born in Burlington, Kings County, Nova Scotia. His father was born in Morden, Kings County, Nova Scotia. His father died in Berwick, Nova Scotia and is interred in Kingston Roman Catholic Cemetery, Nova Scotia. Charles’ parents were married October 25, 1920, in Morden, Nova Scotia, and immigrated to the United States early in the 1920’s, settling initially in Massachusetts. Charles had 2 younger sisters and Marguerite G. Hussey McClurg (1926-2009) and Patricia Hussey Hardy (1932-2009), and a younger brother John Francis Hussey (1928-1987). In 1940 the family was living in Boston, Mass. Charles was employed as a store cellar restaurant clerk. Charles completed his schooling in Boston schools. His mother Grace moved to California with her four children some time between 1940 and 1943. According to family history, Charles enlisted in the US Navy after the Attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Charles married Alice Marion Carey in Watkins Glen, Schuyler Co., New York on April 24, 1943. His mother was living in Santa Rosa, California. Alice was from Watkins Glen, and attended high school there. She was employed as a bookkeeper and stenographer at the Sullivan's Coal Company, in Watkins Glen. At the time of their marriage, Charles was stationed at the United States Naval Training Station (USNTS) Sampson of the US Navy, in Seneca Lake, NY. The Sampson Training Station was subsequently converted to a USAAF base. Ship’s Cook First Class Hussey mustered on the USS Pochard (AM-375), an Auk-class minesweeper, on April 7, 1945, transferred from the Naval Training and Distribution Center (TADCEN) at Camp Shoemaker, in Pleasanton, California, The USS Pochard was scheduled to depart San Francisco on April 30, 1945 to Pearl Harbor. However, Charles was transferred to United States Navy Hospital (USNH) Treasure Island in San Francisco, California, on April 21, 1945. Charles had an operation at the Oakland Naval Hospital. A newspaper article from May 24, 1945, noted he was much improved and that his wife, Marion, was with him. However, later that year he died August 1, 1945, the result of a brain tumour. Ship’s Cook First Class Charles Frederick Hussey’s funeral took place at 9 am on Thursday, August 9, 1945, at St. Mary’s of Lake Church (Reverend Walter Kohl) in Watkins Glen, NY, and he was interred the same day, at the Saint Mary Our Mother Cemetery, Horseheads, Chemung Co., New York, which is near his widow, Alice’s, home-town. On December 2, 1945, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (Elks Lodge) in Watkins Glen held a Lodge of Sorrow, a traditional ritual, for members of the order that died throughout the year. Charles’ widow, Alice Marion, was presented with the Elk Medal of Valor. It is presented to the family of a lost member in recognition of their supreme sacrifice.