My dad, Melvin E. Taylor was born and raised in Anniston, Alabama. He joined the Navy in December 1943. As he was not yet 18, his mother signed a release for him. He had his physical at Fort McClellan in Alabama. Next, he went to the U.S. Naval Training Station at  Great Lakes, Illinois. He remembers it being very cold there.

He was transferred to the Philadelphia. It was in dry dock in Malta for the months of May through June of 1944. On August 6, 1944, they went to the boot of Italy for the invasion of Southern France.

After that, they sailed up and down the coast of France looking for enemy ships and drawing their fire.

He was in charge of the Eye division for the duration of his tour on the Philadelphia.  One of his good buddies was Don Gillis who was from Pennsylvania. He remembers staying at Don’s home one night while they were waiting for orders to leave.

He received an honorable discharge in April 1946 and returned to Anniston where he and my mother, Jewell Frances Miller were married in June, 1946. They had 7 children and eventually moved to Riverside California where Dad still resides. Mom died April 3, 2006. 

Entered by Jeanne Taylor Wyatt
March 28, 2008