Lt. Charles L. Donahue, who was chairman of the Norwood Board of Selectmen when he enlisted in the Navy three years ago, Is back in town as a civilian. He was released to Inactive duty in Boston on Tuesday, the day after his second child, a daughter, was born.
Torpedoed twice. Lt. Donahue saw some of the roughest action of the Pacific war as an officer on the USS Honolulu.
Lt Donahue entered the service in the Fall of 1942 and attended the Naval Training School at Cornell University. Shortly afterward he was assigned to the Honolulu, on which he served until February of this year.
His campaigns included the Southern Solomons. New Georgia-Munda, the first and second battles of the Kula Gulf, Bougainville, and Green Island. Saipan, Tinian, and Guam In the Marianas, Pelelieu, and Anguar in the western Carolines, and Leyte Gulf In the Philippines. His ship was torpedoed the first time in the second battle of Kula Gulf, now called the
battle of Kolombangara, and the second time in Leyte Gulf.
In February he was transferred to Naval Intelligence and served in that branch until his release.
He is married to the former Catherine P Gallagher of Dorchester Besides the latest arrival, the couple have a son, Charles, Jr., who is now two and a half years old.
Donahue Is a graduate of Norwood High School and Georgetown Law School in Washington D. C. He expects to return to the Boston law firm of Sawyer. Hardy. Stone and Morris, with whom he was associated before entering the service.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)