World War II Honoree

Henry J. Racette

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Family & Friends

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY IN JULY 1939. SERVED ABOARD THE USS WORDEN AS A GUNNER'S MATE WHEN JAPANESE BOMBS BEGAN DEVASTATING PEARL HARBOR IN 1941; HE EMERGED UNSCATHED. EARNED SEVEN BATTLE STARS FOR TAKING PART IN ENCOUNTERS AT PEARL HARBOR, THE CORAL SEA, MIDWAY AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. IT WAS IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS THAT THE WORDEN SANK AFTER HITTING AN UNCHARTED REEF IN JANUARY 1943 WHILE LANDING ARMY PERSONNEL; HE SURVIVED. HE WAS ALSO A TRANSPORTATION OFFICER ABOARD THE USS PRESIDENT JACKSON, A SHIP TRANSPORTING MILITARY DEPENDENTS.