World War II Honoree

John Joseph O'Neil

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Linda O'Neil MIlbourn

Relationship

Daughter

RADIOMAN THIRD CLASS. SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY, ASSIGNED TO THE USS TATE AKA-70 CARRYING SUPPLIES AND TROOPS. CAUGHT THE TAIL END OF THE PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN AND WAS IN THE KICK OFF OF OPERATION ICEBOX (OKINAWA) WHERE THEY HELPED CAPTURE ISLANDS IN THE KERAMA RETTO GROUP AND SAW MAJOR ACTION AT IE SHIMA. SURVIVED A NUMBER OF AIR ATTACKS. THE NIGHT BEFORE PEACE WAS DECLARED WITH JAPAN, THE SHIP ARRIVED BACK IN GUAM FOLLOWING A TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO. HE WAS ON DUTY, SCANNING THE RADIO WHEN HE PICKED UP A DIPLOMATIC CHANNEL AND OVERHEARD CONVERSATION THAT PEACE HAD BEEN DECLARED WITH JAPAN. HE NOTIFIED COMMANDER RUPERT LYON WHO THEN NOTIFIED THE CREW.