World War II Honoree

Romeo P. Gosselin

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Manchester, New Hampshire

Honored By

Maria Plumpton

Relationship

Niece

ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1943 AT 20 YEARS OF AGE, BEGAN TWO YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC ON THE USS ESSEX AIRCRAFT CARRIER. THE FLAGSHIP STRUCK WAKE ISLAND IN OCTOBER 1943, LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON THE GILBERT ISLANDS, PARTICIPATED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT AGAINST TARAWA IN NOVEMBER, THEN MOVED ON TO THE MARSHAL ISLANDS, THE MARIANA ISLANDS, SAIPAN, TINIAN AND GUAM IN EARLY 1944. DURING HIS SERVICE ON THE USS ESSEX, AS PART OF ADMIRAL 'BULL' HALSEY'S TASK FORCE 38, HONOREE ACCUMULATED 13 BATTLE STARS. IN ADDITION TO HIS DUTY AS 1ST LOADER FOR THE 20MM AND 40MM PORT SIDE ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS, HE SERVED REAR ADMIRAL FREDERICK C. SHERMAN AS ONE OF FOUR ORDERLIES.