Mack Abbott
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Mack Abbott | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Harvey Mack Abbott |
| Born | 16 October 1922 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | 19 June 2014 (aged 91) Gainesville, Georgia, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ | marines |
| Years of service |
|
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | World War II:
|
Harvey "Mack" Abbott (October 16, 1922 – June 19, 2014) was an American veteran of World War II serving in the United States Marine Corps. After surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor, Abbott's tour of duty led him throughout the Pacific Theater including Palmyra, Midway, Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Saipan, and Tinian. After the war ended, Abbott led a quiet life, had three children, and published a book about his life entitled "First and Last Shots Fired in World War II."[1][2]
Early Life
Harvey "Mack" Abbott was born on October 16, 1922, in Birmingham, Alabama. His childhood was marked by the hardships of the Great Depression.[3]
Military Service
Abbott served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He enlisted at 18 years old and was stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack.[1]
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Abbott was inside the marine barracks when the attack began, waiting for his civilian flying lessons to begin later in the morning. Moments after the first explosion, a Japanese plane flew past just outside his window, which overlooked the harbor.[4] He and other marines fired upon the enemy aircraft with their 1903 Springfield rifles and then helped transport the wounded after the attack ended. He spent the next several days patrolling the Island's fuel depot and eating World War 1-era MREs. On Dec 15, he boarded the USS Thornton, a destroyer headed to relieve the US forces fighting in the Battle of Wake Island, but it was diverted to Palmyra Atoll when Wake fell to the Japanese.[1]
Later Life and Legacy
Following his military service, Abbott lived in Houston where he met his future wife Janie and briefly attended the University of Houston. He later moved to Georgia, where he spent the remainder of his life.[3]
In his later years, he actively shared his experiences of Pearl Harbor with the public, participating in speaking events and giving interviews to preserve the memory of the attack.[1]
Abbott later published his memoir entitled "First and Last Shots Fired in World War II" which details his experiences from childhood into his eighties.[3]
Abbott was heavily involved in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, beginning in the late 1970s.[1]
Abbott passed away in Gainesville, Georgia, on June 19, 2014, at the age of 91.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Davis, Mark (Dec 7, 2009). "One Marine's 'day of infamy'". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 King, Savannah (Jun 20, 2014). "Pearl Harbor survivor Mack Abbott dies". The Gainesville Times.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Pearl Harbor survivor dies at 91". WSB-TV. June 20, 2014.
- ↑ "VIDEO: Pearl Harbor memories - Mack Abbott". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Dec 7, 2017.
External links
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