World War II Honoree

Frank Steven Polis

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

East Chicago, Indiana

Honored By

Captain John Beebe, USNR

Relationship

Highest Ranking Officer, Sheepshead Bay Facility

AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AT THE AGE OF 17, ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE. COMPLETED A 6-WEEK BASIC TRAINING COURSE AT THE SHEEPSHEAD BAY, NEW YORK FACILITY, WHICH INCLUDED 30 HOURS OF GUNNERY TRAINING. SERVED 2 1/2 YEARS, CONSISTING OF ALL OVERSEAS DUTY, EXCEPT FOR BASIC TRAINING. DURING THIS PERIOD, HE WAS A CREW MEMBER ON SEVERAL LIBERTY AND VICTORY TYPE CARGO SHIPS. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN, CARIBBEAN AND FAR EASTERN PACIFIC THEATERS. CAMPAIGN RIBBONS WERE AWARDED FOR ALL THEATERS, ALONG WITH THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. THESE CONVOYS TOOK HIM TO MANY FOREIGN PORTS, TO SEVERAL COMBATIVE ISLANDS IN THE FAR EASTERN PACIFIC AND TWO SEPARATE TRIPS THROUGH BOTH THE SUEZ AND PANAMA CANALS. DISCHARGED WITH NO SERIOUS INJURY.