Thomas Edward Duckworth - The Battle of Coral Sea

In the heart of World War II, a young man named Thomas Edward Duckworth embarked on a journey that would lead him to the Pacific theater, where bravery and sacrifice would define his fate. Born on October 15, 1920, in Columbus, Mississippi, Thomas was raised in a family that valued service and commitment. His father, a veteran of World War I, instilled in him a sense of duty and patriotism from a young age. After graduating from S. D. Lee High School in May 1941, he enlisted in the United States Navy that October, ready to defend his country aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Sims (DD-409).