World War II Honoree

Albert Vincent Zollo

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Beacon Falls, Connecticut

Honored By

Zollo Family

ENLISTED 1942 AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED 1945. GRADUATE OF U.S. NAVAL ENGINEERING WENTWORTH INSTITUTE (BOSTON) AND STEAM ENGINEERING SCHOOL (NEW YORK CITY). ASSIGNED TO USS BOSTON AND WAS ABOARD FOR COMMISSIONING 6/30/43. SERVED AS MACHINIST'S MATE 1ST CLASS. USS BOSTON JOINED PACIFIC FLEET, DECEMBER 1943 AND WAS ACTIVE IN ALL NAVAL BATTLES RETAKING ALL THE ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC, INCLUDING MARSHALL, HOLLANDIA, MARCUS, WAKE, GUAM AND IWO JIMA. DEFEATED MAJOR JAPANESE TASK FORCE IN WATER WEST OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ALSO SUPPORTED INVASION OF GUAM AND ATTACKS ON MINDANAO AND OTHER PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AIR FIELDS AND SHIPPING IN MANILA BAY AND ATTACKS ON OKINAWA AND FORMOSA. USS BOSTON WAS ASSIGNED TO TAKE THE USS HOUSTON IN TOW AFTER BATTLING MAJOR JAPANESE TASK FORCE IN THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA AND WAS THE FIRST HEAVY SHIP OF TASK FORCE 38 TO ENTER THE CHINA SEA AND THE LAST SHIP TO LEAVE. TOOK HEAVY TOLL OF JAPANESE SHIPPING FROM SAIGON, HAINAN AND HONG KONG AREA AND MADE DAMAGING BLOWS STRUCK AT THE JAPANESE FLEET IN KURE KOBE AREA. BOMBARDMENT OF THE JAPANESE HOMELAND COASTAL AREAS. USS BOSTON ANCHORED IN TOKYO BAY AND PARTICIPATED IN JAPANESE SURRENDER. EARNED 10 BATTLE STARS PLUS A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.