The name Jim Dunigan has been painted on the Avenger near the dorsal gun turret.  His story is below.  Bill Dunigan, a SDACM Air Wing volunteer, is Jim's son.

S1/C (AOM) William J. Dunigan

by Bill Dunigan

  Jim Dunigan was born in Emmetsburg Iowa on 9 March 1924.  He attended school in Emmetsburg graduating from Emmetsburg High School and attending one year of Community College.  He received notice that he was drafted in the U.S. Army in February 1943.  Reporting for induction into the service at Ft Des Moines, Iowa, a friend who had enlisted in the U.S. Navy talked him into joining the line of personnel enlisting in the Navy.  He was inducted into the U.S. Navy on 23 February 1943 to serve two years or for the duration of the war.  Jim was shipped off to the United States Naval Training School in Farragut, Idaho.  After graduating from Boot Camp, Jim attended Aviation Ordnance School at the Naval Aviation Tactical Training Center in Norman Oklahoma.  Graduating on 6 May, 1944, he received orders to report to CARRIER AIR SUPPORT UNIT (CASU) FIVE, Naval Air Station San Diego, California.  On 16 May 1944 Jim received transfer orders to the USS CORAL SEA (CVE-57).  On board CORAL SEA, Jim was assigned to the Ordnance Shack where he was tasked with arming TBM Avenger and F4F Wildcat aircraft assigned to Navy COMPOSITE SQUADRON EIGHTY TWO (VC-82) and COMPOSITE SQUADRON THIRTEEN (VC-13).  The missions of his ship consisted of around the clock Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations, Combat Air Patrol (CAP), and air support of troop landings.  Jim’s duties included arming aircraft with bombs, Tiny Tim rockets, ASW torpedoes (FIDO), NAPALM, and ammunitions.  On 10 October 1944 Jim, along with his fellow shipmates, learned the name of their ship was to be changed to USS ANZIO!  This didn’t sit right to Jim or the crew as his ship had already participated in more operations against the enemy than any other U.S. Escort Carrier while the new CORAL SEA was still in construction!  While assigned to USS CORAL SEA/ANZIO, Jim Dunigan earned six battle stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon for participating in the Marianas Operation, Leyte Operation, Luzon Operation, Iwo Jima Operation, Okinawa Operation, and the Third Fleet Operation against Japan.  While on board CVE-57, Jim sailed over 190,052 Nautical Miles!  He survived flight deck operation mishaps, torpedo attacks, numerous kamikaze attacks, the worst typhoon in naval history, and the war.  He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal six stars, World War Two Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.  On two minutes past 0800 on the morning of 15 August 1945, along with all the crew of USS ANZIO, Jim was met with the announcement from the bridge: President Truman announced the Japanese have accepted Allied counter proposal on the surrender terms without qualifications!  On 22 October 1945 Jim was transferred to COMFAIR Alameda, California for reassignment.  On 30 November 1945 Jim Dunigan reported to the United States Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois and discharged from naval service on 10 December 1945.  He returned to Emmetsburg Iowa, married, and raised seven children.  Jim Dunigan passed away on 29 October 2002.