World War II Honoree

Harry Minor Cocowitch, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Dunnellon, Florida

Honored By

Capt. John H. Cocowitch, USN (Ret)

Relationship

Son

COMMISSIONED AS A NAVY ENSIGN AND RECEIVED FLIGHT WINGS AT NAVAL AIR STATION, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA IN JUNE 1941. SEPTEMBER 1941 TO SEPTEMBER 1944, WAS ATTACHED TO PATROL SQUADRON (VP) 72 AS A PLANE COMMANDER OF A PBY-5 CATALINA AIRCRAFT. THE SQUADRON SERVED MOST OF ITS TIME IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. FOR THE NEXT YEAR, HE WAS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AT NAVAL AIR STATION, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. IN DECEMBER 1945, HE BECAME THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE SEAPLANE TENDER, USS DUXBURY BAY, AVP-38. HE WAS AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE AIR MEDAL W/3 STARS, NAVY CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL (W/FLEET CLASP & "A" DEVICE), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/3 STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL W/1 STAR.