Joseph Ianelli Sr.

U.S. Navy
WWII

Joseph Ianelli Sr. was born on June 21, 1926. He met our Mom, Mrs. Jennie Ianelli, in grade school. They were married on October 31, 1948. They had three beautiful children: Joseph, RoseAnn, and Matthew and would have been married 74 years.

Mom passed away May 22, 2020. Our Dad passed away on April 30, 2015. Our parents had six
grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grand baby. They always enjoyed family and friend gatherings, especially during the holidays. We always had such great times together.

Dad joined the Navy on November 1, 1944. He loved the sea very much. It was his passion to be a sailor. He served on the USS Hoggart Bay flat-top. It was called the Queen of the CVE-75 and was the 21st of 50 Casablanca Class Escort Carriers built for the United States Navy during World War II.

The ship was named after Hoggart Bay, a bay in Baranof Island, Alaska. Hoggart Bay was named by Lieutenant Commander E.K. Moore after Wilford Bacon Hoggart – an ensign serving in Moore’s party at the time in 1895. The ship was launched December 4, 1943. She was decommissioned in July 1946, being mothballed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. The USS Hoggart was broken up in 1960. Dad was an honorable sailor and was classified as a Fireman First Class USN-1 which categorized him as part of the group of men who had the job to make sure that the ship was functional. He loved working with machines and became an experienced machinist sailor of his time. He worked as an engineer manning the big ship’s boiler rooms to make sure that it was safe to sail. It was hard work being deep down in those hot rooms sweating. Dad
once told me he thought he was going to die one time the ship had been attacked–the door had
slammed shut and they couldn’t get out until they were rescued many hours later.

After leaving the service, he opened a business called New York Bearings and Company in New York. He worked with car engines, pistons and specialized in valve heads for Mercedes Benz and everything related to engines for 65 years. He really enjoyed and loved his business.

My father loved the ocean so much that he designed the basement in our house to look like a ship with real brass plated port holes placed on the basement windows. The basement floor was made of tile he cut himself to look like fish. Also, there was a 100-gallon fish tank which he enjoyed watching at night to the sound of ocean waves. He made a mermaid out of a mannequin and made a real dock for the ships to come in, which made the whole basement a delight. He always enjoyed being creative and making many projects relating to the sea.

But most of all, he always talked about this country and was proud to serve, live and fight for
all it represented.

God Bless America and all the men and women who fought and are still fighting for this country.

Sponsored by RoseAnn McAllister and the Ianelli Family