CHARLES ALLEN DURDEN

CHARLES ALLEN DURDEN'S

WORLD WAR II HISTORY

AS TOLD BY MYRTICE DURDEN TO JOHNNIE FAYE TAYLOR

U.S. NAVY, USS NARWHAL, USS NAUTILUS, USS BAFFINS,

USS MISSION BAY, USS-LSM 419

Charles was the son of Joe and Mattie Dominy Durden. He was a resident of the County Club Road area of Laurens County for the first 14 years of his life. He attended Marie School until the end of the seventh grade at which time he quit school to work on the family farm. Shortly after turning 14 years of age, Charles and his family moved to the Popular Springs North Community where they continued to farm.

On May 24th, 1938, Charles traveled to Macon, Georgia and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He attended boot camp and was assigned to submarine duty after his training. His first submarine duty was aboard the USS Narwhal in the Pacific Ocean. Pearl Harbor was home base for the USS Narwhal.

Charles enjoyed his duty and also the time spent in port. Oahu was a beautiful unspoiled tropical island in the Hawaiian chain of islands. It was a real adventure for a Laurens County farm boy.

Training and routine patrolling in the Pacific took place on the submarine's cruises. By that time, Europe was already at war and rumors of war were reported in the Pacific Regions. By the fall of 1941, the seamen were actually doing some war patrols because the United States expected the Japanese to invade the Philippine Islands.

On December 7, 1941, the USS Narwhal was in port at Pearl Harbor. The crew was enjoying a nice weekend. As Charles left the barracks that Sunday morning to go to the Mess Hall for breakfast, the first wave of attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor began.

Years later, Charles told of his view of the harbor on that fateful morning. Numerous battleships and destroyers were set ablaze by the seemingly endless barrage of Japanese bombs that rained down in such large numbers that a dark shadow was cast over the shoreline. (From interview with the Courier-Herald just prior to the 50th anniversary of the attack).

Charles survived the attack and continued service in the U.S. Navy until the war was over. He served on several submarines and held several ratings. Come of those ratings were MOMM-2nd Class, Momm-1st Class, CMOMM (AA)(T), AS, S-2nd Class, F-3rd Class, F-2nd Class, F-1st Class and MM 2nd Class. At the time of Charles' discharge, he was chief, Motor Machinist Mate.

His discharge took place on October 16, 1945 at the Navy Personnel Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Charles had served 7 years, 4 months and 12 days. He fought in World War II from the beginning to the end.

Upon his return to civilian life, Charles took advantage of his GI Bill benefits. He worked during the day and attended school at night for many years. He completed his high school education and 2 years of business school.

Charles' brother, Cecil, worked for REA at the time that Charles began looking for a career. The two brothers decided to form a partnership. Durden Plumbing and Electric Company was established as a result of that decision. For 32 years, Charles worked in the successful business venture.

In 1948, Charles married Myrtice Tomlinson. They had three children, Shelley, Bill and Joe. The Durden family attended Marie Baptist Church and later Jefferson Street Baptist Church. For many years the couple owned a home and adjoining property on Brookwood Drive. They watched as several neighborhoods were built in the area. Later they sold that home and built another one on the adjoining property.

Years after the war was over, Charles and Myrtice traveled to Oahu, Hawaii to visit Pearl Harbor. It was an emotional time as they joined other survivors for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association meeting while there. Many memories of December 7, 1941 became more vivid during that trip.

Charles Durden died May 22, 1994 after an extended illness. The couple's two sons, Bill and Joe, preceded him in death.

Myrtice continues to live in Dublin and is an active member of the Springdale Baptist Church.

Special thanks are extended to Myrtice for sharing Charles' military records.