RIP Grant “Gully” Gerhard Gullickson | 1920-2016
Chief Mechanic
USS Corry – DD 463
US Navy
Commander Grant “Gully” Gerhard Gullickson was born on October 2, 1920, in Taylor, North Dakota, USA. He had two brothers and six sisters. In 1939, he enlisted in the Navy at Great Leakes. When the United States entered World War II in late 1941, Grant served as a seaman aboard the USS Mississippi and was deployed in both the Pacific and Atlantic. Beginning in 1942, he was chief engineer aboard the USS Corry.
As part of Operation Neptune, “Gully” participated in the naval support of the assault on Normandy. However, on June 6, 1944, at 6:33 a.m., at the exact moment chosen for the start of amphibious operations at Utah Beach off the Cotentin Peninsula, the USS Corry was hit by German shells. The German batteries, particularly those at Crisbecq (located 2.8 kilometers inland) and Azeville, concentrated their fire on the sinking destroyer. One of these shells hit the 40 mm gun mounts and detonated the nearby ammunition. Grant recounted: “The forward engine room quickly filled with vapors. Luckily, access to the upper deck remained open and we began the evacuation, despite the fact that some sailors were seriously injured.” At 6:40 a.m. the ship’s commander, George Dewey Hoffman, gave the order to evacuate. When Grant “Gully” Gerhard Gullickson emerged from the forward engine room, the main deck was already underwater and the sailors learned of the order to evacuate the ship. Grant continues: “I had lost my life jacket. I ran into Chief Petersen who directed me to the forward mess hall, where he remembered seeing extra life jackets. As I moved there, I was amazed at how calm the destroyer was. The life jacket was where I had been told. I then returned to the main deck before going out to sea and swimming to a float where I held on with my arm. The water was really very cold (between 11 and 12° Celsius). A few minutes after I went into the sea, I felt a slight vibration followed by a whistling noise: a shell had just landed nearby and a fragment had passed right over my head. The German batteries continued to fire for nearly two hours. Several sailors were wounded or killed by these shells while we were still in the water. I was not hit but the cold was beginning to numb me. Without quick assistance, I would not I didn’t feel I could survive. Even though I was still in control of myself, I was shaking all over; I was terrified.
Shortly after, the USS Fitch, our sister destroyer, appeared. As the gunners opened fire, its sailors helped us out of the water and board. All of the Fitch’s crew members helped us calmly and kindly. They served us hot coffee and offered us dry clothes (I had lost everything except my pants). Later, aboard the Fitch, I learned that my colleagues and friends B.J. Petersen, Charlie Brewer, and several others had been killed by shrapnel while in the water. We were all grateful to the Fitch’s crew for their bravery and professionalism.
In total, 24 sailors from the USS Corry were killed, 60 were wounded.
After the Battle of Normandy, “Gully” made a brief visit to the United States and then embarked aboard another warship: the USS John Q. Roberts, deployed to the Pacific during 1944. This ship carried divers tasked with clearing underwater obstacles in Japanese waters. When Japan signed the armistice, Grant was in Tokyo Bay.
After World War II, “Gully” served again as chief engineer aboard the warships USS Aldebran, USS Rigel, USS Northampton, and USS Forrestal. He also served aboard the USS Barney (DDG-6) during Operation Sea Dragon in 1967 off the coast of Vietnam. Thirty years of his life were dedicated to the U.S. Navy. Returning to civilian life, he worked at the Military Circle Mall from 1970 to 1985, the year of his well-deserved retirement. Dedicated to serving others, he was a member of several organizations and twice served as president of the Lake Shores Civic League.
He passed away on July 20, 2016, at his Florida home, surrounded by his family.
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