World War II Honoree

Anthony W. Conte

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hudson, New York

Honored By

Angela Atwell Carlucci

Relationship

Niece

TONY WAS ON PT BOATS. STATE-SIDE, HE WAS ON THE BOAT THAT FERRIED A YOUNG OFFICER NAMED JOHN F. KENNEDY FROM NEW YORK TO FLORIDA. 'OF COURSE, NOBODY KNEW WHO HE WAS THEN.' AT 3 P.M. JUNE 5, 1944 HE WAS ABOARD PT 508 AS IT HEADED INTO THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. A DAY BEFORE HE WAS STATIONED ON PT 509, BUT HIS SKIPPER ON 508, CARL WHARTON, GOT HIM BACK. IN WAR, SUCH MOVES CAN PROVE MOMENTOUS AND THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION. BOTH PTS HEADED OFF HOURS BEFORE THE JUNE 6TH INVASION WITH A MINESWEEPING FLEET. 'WE WERE OPERATING BLIND AND THEN AT 8 A.M. EVERYTHING BROKE LOOSE.' THE NEXT DAY, PT 509 WAS RAMMED BY A GERMAN CONVOY AND ALL, ON BOARD SAVE ONE, THE RADIO MAN WERE KILLED.