World War II Honoree

Ross L. Birdsall

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Fullerton, California

Honored By

George Weck

Relationship

Friend

SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON THE USS COWPENS CVL-25 WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE STRIKES ON WAKE ISLAND, MARSHALL ISLANDS, KWAJALEIN, ENIWETOK, TRUK, PALAU YAP, ULITHI, SATAWAN, AND SUPPORTING RAIDS ON JIMA, PAGAN, LUZON, ROTA, GUAM, AND OKINAWA, AMONG OTHERS. TOOK PART IN THE BATTLES OF LEYTE GULF AND THE PHILIPPINES, ALSO KNOWN AS 'THE MARIANAS TURKEY SHOOT'. ALMOST LOST AT SEA DURING THE GREAT PACIFIC TYPHOON, DECEMBER 15-17, 1944.