World War II Honoree

John Belcastro

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Weymouth, Massachusetts

Honored By

BSA Troop 9 Weymouth & R. M. Thomas

Relationship

Friends

RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. SERVED ON THE USS LA GRANGE, WHICH WAS CREDITED WITH SERVING IN TWO OF THE VITAL CAMPAIGNS THAT MARKED THE CLOSING STAGES OF THE PACIFIC WAR AND HELPED TO BRING THE JAPANESE TO THEIR KNEES. THE LA GRANGE WAS WITH ONE OF THE GROUPS OF ATTACK TRANSPORTS THAT MADE THE INITIAL INVASION OF THE KERAMA RETTO GROUP SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE D-DAY ON OKINAWA, AND HELPED CLEAR THE WAY FOR LANDINGS ON THE ISLAND.