World War II Honoree

Stephen J. Zaklan

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Galva, Iowa

Honored By

Galva American Legion

ENTERED SEPTEMBER 9, 1941. DISCHARGED OCTOBER 15, 1945. AFTER TRAINING, HE SERVED ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS DALLAS, TRANSFERRED TO THE USS LANDSDOWNE WHEN IT WAS COMMISSIONED IN APRIL 1942. PARTICIPATED IN INVASIONS BEGINNING AT GUADALCANAL, RUSSELL ISLANDS, TARAWA, MUNDA, LEYTE, MINDINAO, IWO JIMA, OKINAWA, TOKYO BAY. THE USS LANDSDOWNE CARRIED THE JAPANESE EMISSARIES TO THE USS MISSOURI WHERE THEY SIGNED THE SURRENDER TERMS. HE SAID ONE OF THE GREATEST SIGHTS WAS THE U.S. NAVY IN TOKYO BAY. IN THAT GREAT NAVAL FORCE WERE 12 BATTLESHIPS, 17 AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, 6 ESCORT CARRIERS, 20 CRUISERS, 91 DESTROYERS, 23 DESTROYER ESCORTS, 36 AUXILIARIES AND AMPHIBIOUS CRAFT, 10 DESTROYER TRANSPORTS, 6 APA TRANSPORTS, 3 CARGO SHIPS, 8 AMMUNITION SHIPS, 7 FAST MINE SWEEPERS, 3 HOSPITAL SHIPS, 4 FLEET TUGS AND INNUMERABLE LANDING CRAFT, 20 BRITISH SHIPS. IN ALL A TOTAL OF 383 SHIPS.