Obituary: Clair “Pete” D. Magoffin, 87
The U.S. Navy veteran fought in two wars, witnessed the WWII Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.
Clair “Pete” D. Magoffin, 87, of Leesburg, VA, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, surrounded by his loving family at Inova Loudoun Hospital. Pete was born Dec. 16, 1925, in Elba, NY, to the late William T. Magoffin and Claire E. Dennison. In addition to his parents, his nine siblings preceded him in death. Pete lived most of his life in Rochester, NY. In October 1942, he entered the Navy at age 16. Trained as a gunner’s mate, he volunteered for Naval Armed Guard Service. For the next two years he performed hazardous duty, protecting merchant vessels participating in convoys to destinations that included North Africa, Italy and Normandy (D-Day). In 1944, he volunteered for destroyer duty and shipped out to the Pacific aboard the …
