World War II Honoree

Harold 'Bill' Lewis Finger

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Waterloo, Iowa

Honored By

John E. Miner, Sr.

Relationship

Brother-in-law

JOINED THE NAVY LONG BEFORE THE U.S. GOT INVOLVED. HE WAS ABOARD MANY FREIGHTERS CARRYING MATERIALS TO ENGLAND AND RUSSIA. HE WAS IN THE ARMED GUARD UNITS ON THE SHIPS. THREE OF THE SHIPS HE WAS ON WERE TORPEDOED AND SANK; HE SURVIVED EACH SHIP SINKING. ONE TIME HE WAS IN THE FRIGID WATERS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC FOR MANY DAYS BEFORE HE WAS RESCUED. HIS LEGS WERE BADLY EFFECTED BY THIS AND HE SPENT MANY MONTHS RECUPERATING IN THE HOSPITAL IN THE POCONO MOUNTAINS. WHEN THE U.S. ENTERED THE WAR, HE WAS PLACE ON VARIOUS U.S. WAR SHIPS AND WAS INVOLVED IN MANY NAVY BATTLES ON THE AFRICAN COAST, THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, THE INVASION OF ITALY, THE INVASION OF FRANCE AND THE U.S. GAINING CONTROL OF THE NORTH SEAS AND BALTIC.