The plaque below reads as follows:

U.S.S. EICHENBERGER
(DESTROYER ESCORT 202)

KEEL LAID - APRIL 15, 1943
LAUNCHED - JULY 22, 1943
COMMISSIONED - NOVEMBER 17, 1943

    ENSIGN CHARLES EMIL EICHENBERGER, U.S. NAVAL RESERVE, FOR WHOM THIS VESSEL IS NAMED, WAS KILLED AS A RESULT OF ENEMY ACTION OVER GUADALCANAL SEPTEMBER 12, 1942.

   HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CITATION:

   "FOR HEROISM AND EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AN AERIAL FLIGHT AS PILOT OF A FIGHTER PLANE DURING THE SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN ON AUGUST 24, 1942. DURING THE AIR ATTACK BY JAPANESE ON U.S. NAVAL FORCES, HE FOLLOWED THE ENEMY DIVE BOMBERS DOWN THROUGH THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE FROM HIS OWN SHIPS AND, PRESSING HOME HIS ATTACK UPON A RETIRING DIVE BOMBER, SUCCEEDED IN SHOOTING IT DOWN. HIS COURAGE, SKILL, AND DETERMINATION WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE NAVAL SERVICE."

A. Mrs. ????? Christens her "Eichenberger!"

B. Buckley Class Destroyer Escort, DE-202, slowly meets the water.

C. Dedication

D. Bon voyage in camoflauge. Notice "Confidential" stamped on the photo.

Life onboard for these young men...
Many of them still technically boys.

Photos from DE-202 souvenier booklet

Once the "boys" hit shore. It didn't take them long to start to prove they were young "men".

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Saratoga Cafe, Los Angeles

The caption on the back of this postcard photo reads as follows: "What do you think of this stuff? It is something I picked  up in LA last weekend. I don't even know her last name. She is cute though. I am not drunk on the picture either, just feeling good. Damn good."

War is hell....
(Way to go, Dad!)

Troy Peterson