World War II Honoree

Gerald Osterman

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Whitinsville, Massachusetts

Honored By

Johnny Bowen

Relationship

Son-in-law

AFTER GRADUATING FROM PENN STATE WITH A DEGREE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, MR. OSTERMAN TRIED TO ENLIST AS AN OFFICER IN THE NAVY. HE WAS TURNED DOWN DUE TO A MINOR PHYSICAL CONDITION. HE THEN WENT TO WORK HELPING TO BUILD A CATALYST MANUFACTURING PLANT FOR MAKING AVIATION GASOLINE. THIS WAS A TOP PRIORITY DURING THE WAR, AND ANYTHING THEY NEEDED WOULD BE AIR FREIGHTED TO THEIR LABORATORY. AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF BUILDING THIS PLANT HE TRIED TO ENLIST AGAIN AND WAS ACCEPTED AS AN OFFICER. THE NAVY WANTED HIM TO BE IN ENGINEERING BUT HE WANTED TO BE A REGULAR DECK OFFICER. HE SERVED ABOARD THE USS BINGHAM IN THE AMPHIBIOUS ATTACK UNIT. THEIR MISSION WAS TO DROP TROOPS OFF IN OKINAWA DURING THE BATTLE FOR THAT ISLAND.