PROFILE OF A MUSEUM VOLUNTEER – GEORGE McMAHAN

George was born June 18, 1921, in Oakdale, Tennessee.  He went to school in Oakdale and Cincinnati, Ohio, where he enlisted in the Navy September 21, 1938.  He was sent to Norfolk Naval Training Station for training. Upon completion of training, he was assigned to the USS Dewey, DD349, for duty. The Dewey was sent to Pearl Harbor as part of the Hawaiian Detachment in late 1939. While attached to the USS Dewey, George received a Letter of Commendation from Admiral Nimitz.

In early 1941 George was transferred to the USS Cummings, DD 365 for duty, and was aboard her when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The Cummings received damage and casualties during the attack.

In June 1942, after the attack, George was scheduled for transfer to a new destroyer, but instead, was sent to Algiers, Louisiana for transport armed guard duty.  His job as Signalman, was to ride merchant ships in convoys and handle all the visual communications while enroute. The last ship he rode, the Pennsylvania Sun was torpedoed and George was then sent to the Amphibious Training Base at Little Creek, Virginia for training.

Upon completion of amphibious training George was transferred to the USS Florence Nightingale, APA 70, an amphibious transport with 22 boats assigned to her. While on board, he made landings in North Africa, Sicily, Europe, and Okinawa. After the war George served on the USS McCracken, APA 198, for a short time.  He completed his naval service by serving 5 years in what was then V-6 Reserve.

After leaving the Navy, George went to Cal Poly and received a BS degree in Environmental Engineering.  He also has an MA degree in arts from Fresno State College.  He has three sons.

George joined the Legion of Valor Museum staff after being encouraged to do so by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.  Being a Pearl Harbor Survivor, George soon began setting up a room in the museum commemorating that event.  The Pearl Harbor Survivors Room is now a very popular and much visited museum display.

George's most enjoyable part of being a Docent at the museum is showing young people the many displays and pointing out the sacrifices made by their forefathers to maintain our country's freedom.