Bio: Grosbier, Joseph M. - Gunner’s Mate (Service Notes - 1976)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Grosbier, Meinhardt

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/12/1976

Grosbier, Gunner’s Mate Joseph M. (Service Notes - 1976)

Gunner’s Mate Joseph M. Grosbier, 24, whose wife, Linda, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Meinhardt of Rt. 2 Greenwood, recently participated in a fire-fighting rescue operation while serving as a crew member aboard the guided missile cruiser WSS Leahy.

The Aquasition, a 140-foot research ship, was conducting geologic exploration off the California coast, when a fire started aboard the vessel. Grosbier’s ship docked along side the burning vessel and dispatched a 40-man rescue and assistance team, which battled the smoke and flames for more than four hours. The Leahy was later forced away by flames, heavy smoke and the threat of fuel explosion.

The Aquasition sank and its crew were evacuated in Leahy’s utility boat and safely returned to San Diego aboard Grosbier’s ship.

His cruiser is home-ported in San Diego.

A former student of Columbus High School in Marshfield, he joined the Navy in December 1874.