World War II Honoree

Arthur Otto Falk

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Manistee, Michigan

Honored By

Charles Arhur Falk

Relationship

Son

SERVED ABOARD THE USS RUSSELL DD-414 FROM EARLY 1942 UNTIL END OF PACIFIC CAMPAIGN IN 1945. SAW ACTION IN ALL MAJOR BATTLES OF THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING CORAL SEA, MIDWAY, GUADALCANAL, OKINAWA. THE USS RUSSELL, ACQUIRED A RECORD 16 BATTLE STARS. HE WAS UNDERAGE (A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL), WHEN HE ENLISTED. HE RAN AWAY FROM HOME AND ACQUIRED FALSE ID, IN ORDER TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY. WHEN THE WAR ENDED, HE WORE THE STRIPE OF A TORPEDOMAN 3RD CLASS. HE WAS A 'STRIKER', AS HE ATTAINED ALL OF HIS TRAINING ONBOARD SHIP.