Mel Dean Hooper

January 27, 1944

MELL DEAN HOOPER, son of F. B. Hooper of Bunnell, has entered the navy and is now receiving his training at Sampson, N. Y.

February 17, 1944

A card from public relations office at Sampson, N. Y. advises that MELL DEAN HOOPER has completed his recruit training and will be granted leave. Upon his return to Sampson, he will be eligible for further assignment which may qualify him for a petty officer rating.

March 9, 1944

MELL DEAN HOOPER, in the navy, went to his home in South Carolina on leave recently and came down with pneumonia but, we understand, he is now recovering satisfactorily.

April 6, 1944

Seaman MELL DEAN HOOPER has been transferred from New York to Ft. Pierce.

June 15, 1944

Public Relations sends us the information that MEL DEAN HOOPER "is now an integral member of the amphibious forces of the United States Navy. . . at the amphibious training base, Camp Bradford, Norfolk, Va. Hooper has been assigned to the crew of an LST for active duty. Like the Naval Air Force and the Submarine Service, the physical requirements of the amphibious forces are greater than for the other branches of the naval service. . ,"

January 4, 1945

MEL DEAN HOOPER, in the navy, is now a member of an LST crew in the Pacific.

June 28, 1945

A letter received this week from MELL DEAN HOOPER, with the Navy in the Pacific aboard an LST boat follows:

"Hello Mr. Fuller and to all my friends in Flagler County: I get the paper and enjoy it very much. Of course I don't get them all-my mail has a hell of a time finding me sometime as I am always on the go. I guess I have been almost every place out here from the East China Sea to way below the equator.

I have been in two invasions, Iwo Jima and Okinawa which were a hell of a lot of excitement to me, but our ship is still in good shape. Wish I had a drag line big enough that I could pick up one bucket of dirt and swing around and cover Japan and then take a bulldozer and level it off. Then we could build a new Japan that would be civilized. I am longing for the time to come when I can get back to Bunnell and go down to my old pal Chick's for a real chicken dinner. Hoping to see you next year."

January 3, 1946

Discharged from the armed services this week ..... MELL DEAN HOOPER