World War II Honoree

Robert William Wutke

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

West Allis, Wisconsin

Honored By

Kathryn M. Smith

Relationship

Daughter

HE AND HIS CREW SERVED ON A SHIP SALVAGE, FIRE-FIGHTING AND RESCUE UNIT, LCT 1260 IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AREA FROM OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JUNE 10, 1945. THEY WERE A SERVICE FORCE OF THE 7TH FLEET, WHO RENDERED AN INVALUABLE SERVICE IN FIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES AND IN REPAIRING, RE-FLOATING AND SALVAGING MANY VITAL SERVICE AND COMBATANT SHIPS. WITHIN A PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS, HIS UNIT COMPLETED THE EMERGENCY CLEARING OF MANILA HARBOR, RAISING, REMOVING OR DISPOSING OF OVER 350 VESSELS TOGETHER WITH LARGE QUANTITIES OF JAPANESE UNDERWATER ORDNANCE TO OPEN THE PORT FULLY TO ALLIED USE. HIS TEAMWORK DURING THIS HAZARDOUS MISSION CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESSFUL LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE RECEIVED THE WWII VICTORY RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA RIBBON, NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION RIBBON, AMERICAN AREA RIBBON AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON.