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Joseph Edward Durik was born 9 December 1922 in southwest Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 5 January 1942. Apprentice Seaman Durik was killed in action 15 March 1942 following the accidental firing of a torpedo aboard destroyerUSS Meredith. For his selfless conduct in giving first aid to an injured shipmate although wounded himself, he was posthumously commended by AdmiralChester W. Nimitz.
Durik arrived at Miami, Florida, 8 June 1945 to serve as schoolship for the instruction of student officers. From 21 July to 5 September she was briefly overhauled at New York and trained at Guantanamo Bay, then returned to duty at Miami until 1 November when she arrived at Mayport, Fla., to serve as plane guard for USS Solomons (CVE-67) during the qualifications of pilots in carrier operations. On 28 March 1946 Durik entered Charleston Naval Shipyard, and on 27 April arrived at Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she was placed out of commission in reserve 15 June 1946.
Durik was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1965 and sold for scrap on 30 January 1967.