World War II Honoree

Edward P. Cotter, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Patrick J. Cotter

Relationship

Son

WARRANT OFFICER, RADIO OFFICER. SERVED SEPTEMBER 1944 TO JULY 1945. ENLISTED AT SHEEPSHEAD BAY, NEW YORK TRAINING BASE. GRADUATED U.S. MARITIME SERVICE RADIO SCHOOL ON HOFFMAN ISLAND, NEW YORK FEBRUARY 1945. APRIL TO JULY 1945, WAS ONE OF 3 U.S. MERCHANT MARINE RADIO OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO SS OCALA VICTORY ON VOYAGE FROM NEW ORLEANS THROUGH PANAMA CANAL TO LUZON ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES AND RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. SS OCALA VICTORY SHIPPED TONS OF U.S. ARMY AMMUNITION TO THE PHILIPPINES FOR ALLIED FORCES FIGHTING THE JAPANESE. RECEIVED ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC THEATER MEDALS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, HONORABLE SERVICE BUTTON AND PRESIDENTIAL TESTIMONIAL LETTER SIGNED BY PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN. POSTHUMOUSLY, WAS AWARDED THE 2020 CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO HONOR ALL U.S. MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS OF WWII, AND THE NORWEGIAN CONVOY CUP MEDALLION HONORING WWII MERCHANT MARINERS.