NORTH BRUNSWICK — In a continuing effort to honor veterans in town, the North Brunswick council presented a proclamation to Wilbur (Bill) Voorhees, Jr. on Oct. 26.
Hayes Court will now bear a secondary street sign that has been dedicated as Voorhees Jr. Way.
Voorhees entered the U.S. Navy on Oct. 29, 1943, during his senior year of high school. He was assigned as a Radioman 3rd Class on the USS Doran.
The Doran made five voyages between Boston, New York and ports in the United Kingdom between Oct. 22, 1943, and May 1, 1944, sailing from Norfolk on May 17 to return to the Mediterranean where they screened transports from Oran to Naples and conducted exercises and antisubmarine patrols off Oran and Gibraltar.
They returned to New York on Aug. 22 and made a convoy voyage to Liverpool from Oct. 6 to Nov. 1 before sailing to the Canal Zone as an escort for the USS Randolph.
From Jan. 12 to April 26, 1945, they escorted two convoys to Oran at Charleston, South Carolina, and began the conversion to a high-speed minesweeper. The ship was reclassified DMS-41 on May 30, 1945. With the conversion and shakedown completed, it sailed from Norfolk on July 2 for a month of training at San Diego, was called at Pearl Harbor and the reached Okinawa on Oct. 7.
They swept mines in the Yellow Sea and served on escort and courier duty at Shanghai, China, until January 1946, when they sailed for Wakanoura-wan escorting the ships of Mine Squadron 11 to buoy-laying duty.
The ship remained on duty in Japanese waters until March when they sailed from Yokosuka for San Francisco, arriving on the last day of the month.
After being relieved of his military duties, Voorhees studied at Rutgers Night School and became an accountant.
He married Elsie Olsvary on Dec. 22, 1951. Together they have three children, Barbara Fisher, Carolyn Redman and Wilbur G. Voorhees, III (Garry); three grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
He has been very involved with the North Brunswick Reformed Church, where he is a member.
For more information on the honorary street naming program for veterans in North Brunswick, call the Department of Parks & Recreation at 732-247-0922, ext. 475.