The following article was originally published in a recent edition of the Mascot of Minneota, MN. Permission was granted for the Ryder News to republish the article. Submitted by Darleen (Magandy) Dorenkamper.
Family had big stake in the Navy
By Scott Thoma
Mascot Staff Writer
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| The four Magandys are listed on the memorial. |
With little fanfare, Navy Day came and went on October 27.
Few people even realized there was such a recognition day for this particular branch of the military.
One person that had special interest in the day was Darleen Dorenkamper of Minneota.
“I noticed on one of my calendars that Oct. 13 has the notation 'United States Navy Birthday',” she said.
“So I Googled it, and found that there are two days in October recognizing that branch of the military; the birthday on Oct. 13 and Navy Day on Oct. 27.”
Dorenkamper researched the notation on her calendar because her father, Elmer Magandy, served in the Navy during World War II, as did his two younger brothers, Roland and Donald, and his sister, Irene.
“All four Magandys have their name on a beautiful Veterans' Memorial monument in Ryder, North Dakota, where they lived during the time of World War II,” said Dorenkamper.
Elmer William Herman Magandy enlisted in the US Navy on Feb. 5, 1942 and served on the USS Midway as MM2c.
He served in the Fifth Naval Constitution Battalion Company “D”, which built the air strip in Honolulu.
“He was a caterpillar operator,” Dorenkamper stated. “I have a really neat book about Company 'D' that my dad purchased when he was in the service. It includes a photo of him with the other men in Company 'D'.”
Magandy and his company arrived at Pearl Harbor in June 1942, six months after the Japanese invaded and bombed the area.From July of that year until April 1943, the Fifth Battalion sent detachments to Midway, Palmyra, in the Christian Islands, Johnston Island, and French Frigate Shoals.
Dorenkamper’s uncle, Roland Magandy served on the USS Naragansett beginning in 1946.
Another uncle, Donald Magandy, served on the General HVV Butner beginning in 1947.
And her aunt, Irene Magandy, was a WAVE Petty Officer 1st Class, working with nurse corps in Florida.
“There were nine Magandy siblings, with three boys and six girls,” Dorenkamper said.
“So, to have all three sons plus a daughter serving in the Navy, my grandmother said one time that she had a lot to worry about.”
The Navy League of the United States organized the first Navy Day in 1922, holding it on Oct. 27 because it was the birthday of President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a naval enthusiast.
And with Veterans Day coming up on Nov. 11, it’s a time to reflect not only on the Navy veterans, but all the other branches of the military, too.
Minneota will celebrate Veteran’s Day with a special service at Minneota High School at 11 a.m. Speakers, the high school band and others are on the schedule for Veteran’s Day in Minneota.
