World War II Honoree

William T. Gresh

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Unionville, Connecticut

Honored By

Jane Tessier, Laurie Nolan, Thomas Gresh

Relationship

Children

DRAFTED INTO U.S. NAVY ON MARCH 11, 1943. BOOT TRAINING AND SIGNALMAN SCHOOL AT SAMPSON NAVAL BASE. OFF TO LITTLE CREEK AMPHIBIOUS BASE, THEN TO CAMP PICKETT, VIRGINIA. ATTACHED TO 292ND JOINT ASSAULT SIGNAL COMPANY (JASCO); TRAINED WITH THE ARMY FOR 6 MONTHS. WENT OVERSEAS TO KANEOHE, HAWAII AT FORT HAASE. LEFT JASCO THEN WENT ABOARD USS LAMAR APA-47. ATTACHED TO COMMANDER TRANSPORT DIVISION 37 BEACH PARTY. MADE INVASION OF GUAM WITH 77TH DIVISION, THEN PARTICIPATED IN THE RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WITH 7TH IN THE INVASION OF LEYTE. TRANSFERRED WITH TRANSPORT DIVISION TO USS MONROVIA APA-31, MADE INVASION OF LUZON WITH 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN LANDING WITH 22ND MARINES IN LANDING ON OKINAWA. AFTER WAR ENDED, TRANSPORTED CHINESE NATIONALISTS TO MANCHURIA; LEFT CHINA FOR JAPAN. SHIP THEN JOINED MAGIC CARPET, CARRYING TROOPS BACK TO THE U.S. LEFT MONROVIA, TO READY FOR DISCHARGE FROM SAN DIEGO. RETURNED TO LONG BEACH, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. SEPARATED WITH HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON FEBRUARY 20, 1946.