The Brave Sailors of the USS Makassar Strait (CVE-91)

Here is an amazing "Then & Now" couple of photos donated to our Home of the Brave Museum and currently on display. Though we do not know the real names of these brave men, we do know they were all still alive in 1998 for their reunion and still playing poker with each other as they did 53 years prior! 

These men were on board the USS Makassar Strait (CVE-91), a Casablanca class escort carrier in the United States Navy. During these brave sailors time on board the ship, they saw a lot of action in the Pacific, providing air support for American ground troops during the battle of Okinawa-the air support brought devastating airstrikes against enemy gun emplacements, ground installations and airfields on the island. Her planes were credited with shooting down four enemy aircraft as well. The USS Makassar Strait received two Navy battle stars for her service in World War II! 

The Home of the Brave Museum is proud to have Dago, Bags, Squeaky and Olie on our Wall of Fame and will always remember the brave sailors that sailed aboard the USS Makassar Strait in World War II!!!