Charles G. Derderian of Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club passed away on Jan. 6.
Beloved brother of George, John and Robert. Charles joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1943 at age 18. He was assigned to the newly organized crew of the LST 759, a 328-foot amphibious landing craft. LST 759 survived a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on its voyage to Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal.
Charles served 20 months overseas in the Pacific area. He was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard “Silver Lifesaving Medal” for heroism during World War II. He was senior vice-commander of Manhasset VFW Post 5063 and co-chairman of the Memorial Committee that established the “Manhasset Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Park”—1997.
A memorial service was held at Calverton National Cemetery on Jan. 10, 2014 with the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard present to honor Charles.
Memorial donations may be made to the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, Bayside, NY 11364.
