World War II Honoree

Thomas Patrick Norton II

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Jersey City, New Jersey

Honored By

Richard Arthur Norton

Relationship

Son

MILITARY SERVICE NUMBER 6475377. RADIOMAN 2ND CLASS. ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON JUNE 23, 1942 IN NEW YORK CITY WHILE WORKING AT MUTUAL CHEMICAL IN JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY. TRAINED TO BE A RADIOMAN IN BEDFORD SPRINGS, PENNSYLVANIA FOR 16 WEEKS THEN TRAINED AN ADDITIONAL 4 WEEKS AT NOROTON HEIGHTS, CONNECTICUT. SERVED A TOTAL OF 2 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS ON ACTIVE DUTY. FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS ABOARD THE SS JAMES IREDELL TRAVELLING FROM NEW YORK TO CASABLANCA VIA ICELAND TO PICK UP A LOAD OF PHOSPHATE; THE SHIP RETURNED CARRYING A LOAD OF WHISKEY. LATER HE SERVED ABOARD THE SHIP MV SATURNIA. HE TOOK PART IN THE INVASION OF SICILY IN 1943. HE WAS AMONG THE AMERICAN FORCES THAT CAPTURED THE NAZI AIRFIELD AT GELA, 5 MILES FROM THE BEACHHEAD. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM LIDO BEACH, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1945.