A WWII Veteran passes

[Tim D]

THE PASSING OF CDR JOSEPH L. MCGRIEVY, USN (RET) ON MONDAY,
18 FEBRUARY 2008. CDR MCGRIEVY WAS BORN ON 14 JUNE 1917 AND ENLISTED
IN THE NAVY IN 1936. CDR MCGRIEVY'S FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS ABOARD THE
SUBMARINE TENDER USS HOLLAND (AS-3) AND FROM THERE SERVED ABOARD THE
USS PICKEREL (SS-177) AS A SIGNALMAN WHERE HE EARNED HIS SUBMARINE
DOLPHINS. CDR MCGRIEVY'S NEXT TOUR WAS ABOARD THE USS SEARAVEN
(SS-196) AS PART OF THE SUBMARINE'S COMMISSIONING CREW. WHILE ABOARD
SEARAVEN, HE MADE 4 WAR PATROLS AND TOOK PART IN A RESCUE OF 34
AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE PERSONNEL AND 2 U.S. ARMY PILOTS ON THE ISLAND
OF TIMOR, WHICH EARNED HIM THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL. AFTER
COMPLETING HIS NEXT TOUR AND 1 WAR PATROL ABOARD THE USS SKIPJACK
(SS-184), CDR MCGRIEVY WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE USS SEAHORSE (SS-304),
WHERE HE SERVED AS CHIEF OF THE BOAT AND COMPLETED 6 WAR PATROLS.
FOLLOWING SEAHORSE, CDR MCGRIEVY WAS STATIONED ABOARD THE USS CHIVO
(SS-341) AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION. AFTER SERVING
HIS NATION HONORABLY FOR 30 YEARS CDR MCGRIEVY RETIRED FROM THE NAVY
IN 1966. CDR MCGRIEVY'S AWARDS INCLUDE THE SILVER STAR, THE NAVY AND
MARINE CORPS MEDAL, NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL, SUBMARINE COMBAT PATROL
PIN WITH 10 STARS, BOTH SILVER AND GOLD SUBMARINE DOLPHINS, 3 AREA
COMBAT RIBBONS, PHILLIPINE DEFENSE MEDAL, PHILLIPINE LIBERATION MEDAL
AND THE WORLD WAR TWO VICTORY MEDAL.
CDR MCGRIEVY WAS A SAN DIEGO ICON AND REMAINED VIGOROUSLY ACTIVE IN
PROMOTING THE PRESENT U.S. SUBMARINE FORCE AND REMEMBERING AND
HONORING THE WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE SERVICE. HE WAS A LIFETIME MEMBER
IN BOTH THE UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS INC (SCAMP BASE) AND THE
SUBMARINE VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II ORGANIZATIONS.
CDR MCGRIEVY WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY ALL OF HIS SHIPMATES AND
FRIENDS WHO WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KNOW HIM AND SHARE IN HIS
COMPANY.