World War II Honoree

Peter F. Catelli, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Honored By

Grateful American

Relationship

Admirer

SERVED ON MINESWEEPING SHIPS. HE WAS COMMISSIONED TO THE USS PINNACLE AM-274 AT CHICASAW AND THE USS FENTRESS AK-180. SERVED IN THE ATLANTIC THEATER. HE ALSO SERVED ON AN ESCORT SHIP TO EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA AND PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. IN ONE INSTANCE, HIS ESCORT SHIP ACCOMPANIED PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT TO THE YALTA CONFERENCE. HE OPERATED OFF THE COASTS OF NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTHERN ITALY AND OFF THE ISLANDS OF SICILY, SARDINIA AND CORSICA, WITH ONE OF HIS SHIPS ESCORTING THE LAST GROUP OF GERMAN PRISONERS TO VIRGINIA. HE WAS RE COMMISSIONED AND ENTERED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL TO THE WEST COAST ON THE SAME SHIP. HE OPERATED OUT OF HAWAII, ENIWETOK, SAIPAN, OKINAWA AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. HE ALSO OPERATED OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN IN PREPARATION FOR AN INVASION. JAPAN SURRENDERED BEFORE THE INVASION COULD TAKE PLACE. HE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC RIBBON.