John Peganoff (December 9, 1921 – June 23, 2012)
 John Peganoff and Ralph Williams Jr. |
 Ralph Williams Jr. (Back L), John Peganoff (Front L), Ross Fike Jr. (Back M), John Hardy (Front M), and Jack Schraa (Back R) |
 John Peganoff, Herman Knapp, and Ross Fike Jr. |
 John Peganoff |
John Peganoff’s obituary appeared in the June 28, 2012 edition of the Erie (PA) Times-News:
John Peganoff, age 90, entered into rest on Saturday June 23, 2012 surrounded by his family. Beloved husband for 60 years to Dorothy (nee Perkins) Peganoff, loving father of Steven (Jennifer) and Dina, dearest grandfather of John, Daniel, and Alyssa. John was a proud World War II Veteran who was awarded a Bronze Star while serving in the U. S. Navy participating in six battles including Omaha Beach. He was an electricial engineer with Copes-Vulcan in Lake City, Pa. for 32 years and loved fishing and vacationing on the Atlantic with his family. Interment at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio. The Misencik Funeral Home in Avon, Ohio is in charge of all arrangements.
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John Peganoff Grave Marker
Many thanks to Barb Bohn for submitting the above photo to Find A Grave.
USS LCI(L)-11 Crew
My father Earl Winn, told me that he and Peganoff (who he referred to as The White Russian) were the two best swimmers on the boat, so they got the job of jumping off the boat first and swimming a line in to shore. They secured the line, and pulled a rope off the ship and secured it, so the troops would have a rope to hang on to when they jumped off the boat. The troops had full combat loads, and the water was often over their heads. This was amazing to me, since on alternate landings He, or Peganoff were the first ones over the side, and they were only wearing their skivvies!
My dad also told me about a time they were anchored off the shore of Sicily and it was a nice warm February day. It was 70 degrees out. They were daring each other to take a swim. Peganoff jumped in first and he was swimming around, spitting water in the air and telling my dad how wonderful it was. He sold it well enough for my dad to jump in. The water was about 40 degrees!!
@Duncan Winn Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories, Duncan. It is much appreciated!