Orlando (Lindy) Rossino: Turn 17, Join the Coast Guard

By Carla Khan, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

When Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, Orlando Rossino, nicknamed Lindy, knew he wanted to join the American Forces to defend his country.  Unfortunately, he was barely 14 years old and would have to wait till he was the proper age.  For the next couple of years he attended Proviso High School in suburban Chicago and worked to help support his widowed mother. 

Lindy always remembered that his father, who had fought in the trenches in WWI Europe, had advised him not to wait to serve his country until he was drafted. Finally on April 2, 1945, just a few days short of his 17th birthday, Lindy enlisted. His goal was to join the Marines because he really wanted to fight.  However, there were more than 200 young men under the age of 19 at the recruiting center, all of them ready to enlist.  Eventually they were lined up in alphabetical order and delegated to the various branches of service. 

Lindy fell into the Coast Guard category.  Before he knew it, he was off for six months of  Boot Camp at  Sheepshead Bay Maritime Service Training Station, Brooklyn, NY.  Training was very tough, according to Lindy, the most challenging part was the discipline.  He learned a lot of new skills, among them how to distill water out of seawater and how to clean all the surfaces of a ship – really well.  Finally, with training completed, Lindy was assigned to the USS Mosley, a destroyer escort.  It was a new adventure for him and he loved his new life as a sailor.  For this 17-year-old, there was 24/7 action and never a dull moment.  Assignments ranged from assisting with the watch to cleaning the heads.  In port he was told to stand watch and was issued a gun without any bullets.  He was to question anyone who wanted to come aboard.  According to Lindy, there were about 300 men on board along with 25 officers.  The officers got to buy food whenever the ship was in port.  For the enlisted men, the food was passable but there was always plenty of it.  

In May of 1945, they were docked in Georgia during National Navy Day showing off their ship to anyone who wanted to come and see it. There had been rumors of a German surrender.  Unexpectedly the news broke on May 7, 1945, that the war in Europe was over.  The crew of the Mosley expected to be sent to the Far East but the ship stayed on the US east coast. They practiced firing their ship guns including the 5” cannon. They also practiced the release and placement of mines.  The mines were the size of oil drums and would be released near a target where they attached themselves like magnets to the hull of the target and then exploded.  The Mosley crew never got the chance to use their maneuvers on enemy ships because on September 2, 1945 the news broke that Japan had surrendered and that WWII had ended.

Lindy enjoyed his life as a Coast Guard sailor and stayed on until May 4, 1946 when he suddenly was honorably discharged with the rank of Fireman First Class.  He would have liked to remain in the Coast Guard but there was a surplus of sailors.  He would have had more than 5 years of service had he been able to stay on, but instead, his pay of $66/month was prorated and he left the service with about $100 in his pocket.

While Lindy was at sea, his mother remarried and had moved to California.  Since he now had no home to go  to, he rented a room at a friend’s house, worked through the winter and then went to visit his mother in California. He stayed there for a while but eventually decided he liked Chicago better.

Upon his return to Chicago, he met a wonderful young lady by the name of Rose Marie whom he married in 1949.  Her father was in the construction business and offered Lindy a job as a carpenter which he accepted.

Lindy, who is now 94 years old and Marie Rose who recently turned 90,  have had a long and happy marriage. They have two sons, one daughter, two grandsons, one granddaughter, and five great-granddaughters.  Lindy remained in the carpenters’ trade for most of his career. Although he still occasionally wonders how his life might have been had he had the opportunity to remain in the Coast Guard.

Thank you for your service, Fireman First Class Orlando Rossino. Enjoy your Honor Flight !