[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 137 (Friday, August 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E865-E866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF MICKEY GANITCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARK DeSAULNIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 19, 2022

  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
service of Mickey Ganitch.
  Mickey was born in Mogadore, Ohio and moved to California in 1939. On 
January 21, 1941, he joined the U.S. Navy and began attending boot camp 
in San Diego, California. He became a quartermaster, responsible for 
navigation and steering the ship. When he was stationed at the USS 
Pennsylvania at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked on December 7, 
1941. Mickey described how during the attack, a 500 pound bomb missed 
him by about 45 feet.
  Later on, Mickey went to the Philippines and Okinawa. While in 
Okinawa, his ship was hit by a Japanese torpedo. In 1948, the ship he 
was working on was found to have unsafe levels of radiation and he was 
assigned to the USS Mt. Katmai, an ammunition ship. Mickey retired from 
the Navy in October 1963. When Mickey returned to Oakland, he worked in 
a bowling alley and as a fishing net manufacturer. He went on to work 
security for the Alameda Naval Station until 1996.
  Mickey was passionate about serving the veteran community. He was 
involved with a wide variety of veteran and military groups including 
the Fleet Reserve Association, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the Pearl Harbor Survivors 
Association, and was a volunteer at the Oakland VA clinic.
  Sadly, Mickey passed away this Spring at the age of 102. He was a 
beloved member of the veteran community and he will be missed. Please 
join me in honoring his service to our community and to our Nation.

[[Page E866]]

  

                          ____________________