Enlisted during 1945 (while still in high school-back in the day, one was able to "fudge" things like age, etc.). Later after discharge, came home and finished high school in 1947.

Seaman Edward P Butler, USN, 1945

Bombs being transferred to the USS Hornet CV-12 from ammo ship off Iwo Jima, February 1945. Note the heavy weathering and rust on the original dazzle paint on her forward hull. The USS Hornet was the first Essex-class carrier to be painted in dazzled paint (November 29, 1943) and one of the last to have it painted out (July 1945).(rudeerude)

Bomb transfer

Task Group 38.3 enters Ulithi anchorage in column, 12 December 1944, while returning from strikes on targets in the Philippines.Ships are (from front): Langley (CVL-27); Ticonderoga (CV-14); Washington (BB-56); North Carolina (BB-55); South Dakota (BB-57); Santa Fe (CL-60); Biloxi (CL-80); Mobile (CL-63) and Oakland (CL-95).