LYDOLPH, Cecil M.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 10/10/2014 Cecil M. Lydolph World War II veteran Cecil M. Lydolph, 93, passed from this life Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in Taylor. He was born Jan. 18, 1921, to Charles Ernest and Georgia May Workman Lydolph. Cecil married the love of his life, Wanda Marie Vickers, on May 17, 1941. They were married for 73 years. Wanda passed five short weeks ago and Cecil followed her just like he promised her he would. Cecil always kept his word. They moved with their four children from Bonaparte, Iowa, to Snowflake in 1962 when the Papermill opened, then back briefly to Bonaparte from 1976 to 1979. Then they came back to live in Taylor and he would return working for the Papermill until he retired in 1983. Cecil was 1938 senior class president of the Bonaparte School. He excelled in sports and academics. He worked for the Rock Island Railroad, Fairfield Glove Factory, Barker’s in Keosauqua, Iowa, Plastic Factory in Bonaparte. He also bought and worked his own farm. He loved to watch baseball games onTV or watch his grandchildren play Little League and school sports. He love to bowl, fish, work, garden, build, sit on the porch swing and just enjoy life. He loved his children unconditionally. He was a great man, husband, father and grandfather. Cecil was a World War II veteran who entered into active service May 27, 1943, as “carpenter’s mate (construction battalion) (surveyor) 3/C” They were known as Seebees. Cecil never saw battle but was very close. He arrived in Pearl Harbor Sept. 16, 1944, then pulled anchor to join a convoy outside of Pearl Harbor. From there his ship went into the Marshall Islands, then to Ulithi Atolls Lagoon, Caroline Islands, on Oct. 8, 1944. Then on Nov. 2, 1944, debarked from SS Cape Newenham and landed on Guam, along with another ship unit they were assigned to a stretch of jungle west of the airstrip on Orote Peninsula. They set sail for Japan and dropped anchor off shore of the Nips Homeland. On Aug. 30, he debarked from the LST (landing ship, tank) and landed on Honshu Island at the Yokosuka Airbase in Yokosuka, Japan. They were the first Seebees to land on Nippon Soil, three days before the formal surrender of the Japanese to the United Nations (Sept. 2, 1945) as a member of Task Force 31 participating in the initial landing and occupation of the Tokyo Bay area and the capture of the HIJMS Nagoto (ship) which symbolized the unconditional and complete surrender of the Japanese Navy. Cecil was honorably discharged Nov. 27, 1945. Survivors include four children, Chris Lydolph of Texas, Murrie (Janet) Lydolph and Jeff Lydolph, both of Mississippi; daughter Sarita (Lynn R.) Hatch of Taylor; and 15 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda, his parents, brother Ernest Lydolph, grandson George Lydolph and daughter-in-law Trenna Lydolph. In honor of his wishes, no services will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice Compassus would be appreciated. Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor handled arrangements.