World War II Honoree

James Joseph Monaghan

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Maspeth, New York

Honored By

Kathleen Schumacker

Relationship

Daughter

FIRE CONTROLMAN 1ST CLASS AND LATER MOTOR MACHINIST'S MATE 2ND CLASS (T). SERVED FROM DECEMBER 29, 1942 TO JANUARY 10, 1946. ENLISTED AT NEW YORK. ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. GRADUATED FROM DIESEL SCHOOL NAVY TRAINING CENTER, NAVY PIER, CHICAGO ON MAY 28, 1943. COMPLETED LANDING CRAFT SCHOOL WITH QUALIFICATIONS AS COXSWAIN OF SALVAGE BOATS AT DESTROYER BASE, SAN DIEGO ON AUGUST 15, 1943. DEPARTED FOR OVERSEAS FROM TREASURE ISLAND, CALIFORNIA ABOARD THE STEAMSHIP SS MATSONIA TO U.S. NAVY RECEIVING STATION NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA. ASSIGNED TO THE ATTACK TRANSPORT USS FULLER APA-7 CARRYING TROOPS, SUPPLIES, LANDING CRAFT AND PRISONERS OF WAR THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC THEATER, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND, FIJI, NEW HEBRIDES, THE NORTHERN MARIANNA ISLANDS, MARSHALL ISLANDS, ADMIRALTY ISLANDS, SOLOMON ISLANDS AND CAROLINE ISLANDS, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, NEW GUINEA, CHINA AND INDO-CHINA. LAUNCHED LANDING CRAFT AND TROOPS FOR THE ASSAULTS ON SAIPAN AND TINIAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS AND PALAU ISLANDS, GUADALCANAL, BOUGAINVILLE, LEYTE, LUZON AND OKINAWA. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA. COMMENDED FOR BOAT CREW OPERATIONS ON PELELIU ISLAND, PALAU, SEPTEMBER 15-26, 1944. RETURNED TO THE U.S. AT SEATTLE. DISCHARGED AT LIDO BEACH, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. AWARDED THE NAVY COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL WITH 6 CAMPAIGN STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 CAMPAIGN STARS. ALSO AWARDED THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' LAPEL BUTTON FOR HONORABLE SERVICE AND INDUCTED INTO THE ANCIENT ORDER OF THE DEEP, ROYAL COURT OF KING NEPTUNE FOR CROSSING THE EQUATOR AND INTO THE ANCIENT AND SACRED ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON FOR CROSSING THE 180TH MERIDIAN.