World War II Honoree

John M. Besek

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

John Besek

Relationship

Son

WANTED TO JOIN THE ARMY AT 17 BUT HIS MOTHER WOULD NOT GIVE HIM HER PERMISSION; BUT IN LATE 1944 SHE AGREED TO LET HIM JOIN THE NAVY. HIS ONLY PROBLEM WAS THAT HE WAS UNDERWEIGHT AND HAD TO GAIN 12 POUNDS BEFORE HE WAS INDUCTED, WHICH FOR HIM WAS A BIG ORDEAL. WHEN HE FINALLY MADE HIS WEIGHT HE WAS SENT TO HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA FOR BOOT CAMP, WHERE HE EVENTUALLY SERVED AS A STOREKEEPER. BEFORE HE COULD BE DEPLOYED FOR ACTIVE DUTY THE WAR ENDED. ALTHOUGH HE NEVER SERVED ON A SHIP, HE LOOKED BACK ON HIS TIME SERVING THE COUNTRY AS A TRUE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR.