Don’s next assignment as Chief Quartermaster was on the USS Levy, a destroyer escort commissioned in May 1943. Its area of operation was in the South Pacific, with the objectives of escorting oiler fueling operations, driving off attacking enemy planes, serving as a psychological presence and blockading and bombarding the remaining atolls (a ring-shaped coral reef including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely) held by the Japanese. It was important to control the island inside the atoll because in some cases there was enough land to build a landing strip for bombers, used to bomb Tokyo. Also, natives were rescued from the Japanese on some of the islands. On one atoll, a South Korean, whom they called “Sammy,” was rescued, and when Don was guarding him, he asked Sammy to write down his name on a piece of paper. Many years later, Don took the paper to a Korean cleaners he used and asked the proprietor to translate the note. It said: “Good Luck.”
One of the very important things associated with the USS Levy is that surrender agreements were signed on board by the Japanese from the Milli Atoll, Jaluit Atoll and Wake Island. In September 1945, the USS Levy left the South Pacific for San Francisco.
Stationed in the United States, Don used his expertise in teaching navigation at Dartmouth College, one of many colleges and universities that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, which offered students a path to a navy commission; as Tugboat Master in Boston Harbor, commanding six Tugboats; and as a Navy recruiter in New York City.
Don finished his duties in the Navy on July 13, 1948 serving a total of nearly eight years. During his time in the Navy, he earned the following: Navy Occupation Service Medal, Philippine Liberation with two stars, Asiatic Pacific area with seven stars, European African Middle East Area with one star, American Defense Medal (A), Good Conduct Medal with one star, American Area Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
Don decided he would not reenlist in the Navy because he had been married to Muriel for several years. He remarked about the tough life of a Service member’s wife since he was on the seas much of the time. Also, by now, the Ennis’s had two small kids followed by a third a couple of years later. Michael, now 68, is a master carpenter and is known for his hobby of pigeon flying. Don gave Michael some pigeons when he was 12. Michael buys, sells and breeds pigeons and currently has about 100 of them and is a two time All American pigeon ace flyer (entering his birds in races).
Mark, who was an expert carpenter that built homes in West Goshen, Chester County and also worked on a ranch in Michigan with cattle, died from cancer at the age of 54.
Don and Muriel’s other child is Kathleen, who graduated from Art College, was a house painter on the Main Line and became disabled when she fell 24 feet off a ladder, severely injuring her spine. Kathleen currently lives in Wagontown.
Once out of the Service, Don had a few jobs. He worked at the University of Pennsylvania in construction. While there, he audited about a dozen business college classes to prepare himself for the future. The University then transferred him to the beginning of a facility donated by the DuPonts to University of Pennsylvania, the New Bolton Center, which now is a world-renowned School of Veterinary Medicine for large animals situated on 700 acres in Kennett Square. When Don first arrived at the Center, there was one house on the land. Don was Property Manager. There were two stipulations from the DuPonts: all employees hired were to be Amish and housing would have to be provided for the employees Monday through Friday. Other jobs Don held were Property Manager at Food Fair Stores, and he was self-employed for a period of time.
Jeff Hall, of Honey Brook, contributes columns to Berks-Mont Newspapers.
