Survived Three Sunken Ships: Germain J. Maurais

Obituary from April 27, 2012, Chicago Daily Herald. ///// GERMAIN J. MAURAIS (1921-2012) //// Died April 25, 2012. A man who led qwuite an interesting life during World War II. Born in Quebec, Canada and nicknamed "Frenchy" after he came to the United States where he eventually became a naturalized citizen. //// Enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939 and during the early part of the war, served on a destroyer doing North Atlantic convoy duty. //// He later was coxswain on Higgins landing boats at Guadalcanal and other Pacific islands. Probably most notable was that he was on theree ships that sank: light vrusier USS Atlanta, USS McCawley and USS John Penn. He also saw service on the destroyer USS McCook and at the end of the war on the USS Trapper. //// He was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. //// --GreGen

On Three Ships Sunk in the South Pacific-- Part 2

He spent three months in hospitals in Noumea, New Caledonia, and California being treated for both physical injuries and what is today called post-traumatic stress disorder.

When the USS John Penn was sunk, Jim Maurais ended up in the water for hours surrounded by a sea of fire and sharks

After his release from hospital, he met his future wife, Maggie, on a blind date.  They remained married for 62 years until her death in 2006.  He would often say, "For every misfortune, there is a seed of equivalent benefit.  If that ship (the Penn) hadn't gone down, I'd never have met my beloved Maggie."

In August 1945, he was declared fit for duty and reassigned to the USS Trapper, a  minelayer that assisted in the clearing of mines in the Sea of Japan.  He was in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered, but pretty far away.

With Canadians Like This, No Wonder We Won.  --GreGen

On Three Ships Sunk in the South Pacific-- Part 1

From the May 2nd Chicago Tribune obituary "Frenchy served in WWII, became citizen, sales exec" by Joan Giangrasse Kates.

Germain J. Maurais came to America from Quebec in 1927 and his English was so broken he got the name "Frenchy" and that name followed him into the Navy during World War II.  Enlisting as an apprentice seaman, he rose through the ranks to chied petty officer before being discharged.  He served in the Pacific, European and North African theaters on destroyers and Higgins boats and earned a Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.

Jim Maurais, 90, died April 25th in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

From Quebec, his family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, and he joined the Navy in 1939 and was assigned to the USS McCook, a transport escort in the North Atlantic.  He went on to serve on three other ships, the USS Atlanta, the USS McCawley and the USS John Penn, all of which were sunk in battle in the South Pacific.

More to Come.  --GreGen