World War II Honoree

Arthur Lynden Hand

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New Haven, Connecticut

Honored By

CDR Christopher M. Hand, USNR (Ret)

Relationship

Grandson

ASSIGNED TO THE USS CASSIN WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR IN 1941. AFTER THE SHIP WAS DESTROYED BY THE JAPANESE ATTACK, HE WAS RE-ASSIGNED AND SERVED ON THE USS HONOLULU FROM 1941 TO 1943. DURING HIS TENURE ABOARD THE USS HONOLULU, HIS SHIP WAS INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE OF TASSAFARONGA AND THE CAPTURE AND DEFENSE OF GUADALCANAL. AFTER ATTENDING VARIOUS TRAINING SCHOOLS, HE WAS PROMOTED TO WARRANT OFFICER IN LATE 1943. TEMPORARILY SERVED ABOARD THE USS WASP, WHERE HE HELPED COMMISSION THIS VESSEL INTO NAVAL SERVICE. HE WAS LATER REASSIGNED TO THE USS ASTORIA, WHERE HE FUNCTIONED AS THE AUXILIARY ENGINEERING DIVISION OFFICER. IN 1944, HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE. IN LATE 1944, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S. NAVAL SHIPYARD IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE INACTIVATION AND PRESERVATION OF 51 NAVAL VESSELS. SERVED THE REMAINDER OF WWII AT THIS DUTY STATION. AWARDED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION MEDAL, YANGTZE RIVER MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL, AMERICAN-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL, NAVY COMMENDATION AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY IN THE U.S. NAVY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1954.