World War II Honoree

Robert A. Gusberti

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Watervliet, New York

Honored By

Robert A. Gusberti

Relationship

Self

ENLISTED AT 18 IN AUGUST 1942. BASIC TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES TRAINING FACILITY. SENT TO BUTLER UNIVERSITY IN INDIANAPOLIS FOR TRAINING AS A SIGNALMAN. SERVED IN AMERICAN THEATER, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, AND ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. TOOK PART IN LIBERATION OF PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. SEVERELY WOUNDED IN ACTION WHILE SERVING ABOARD DESTROYER LAMSON (DD-367) IN THE PACIFIC. THE ATTACKING JAPANESE SUICIDE PLANE WAS ABLE TO AVOID MOST OF ANTI AIRCRAFT FIRE AND STRUCK THE SHIP'S STRUCTURE CLOSE TO THE BRIDGE. ABANDONED SHIP AND WAS WOUNDED BY THE SHIP'S PROPELLERS AND SUFFERED 3RD DEGREE BURNS. RESCUED BY THE DESTROYER FLUSSER (DD-368) AND TAKEN CARE OF IN ITS WARD ROOM. FOLLOWING THE ATTACK, SPENT 9 MONTHS IN HOSPITALS GETTING SKIN GRAFTS AND REHABILITATION BEFORE BEING MEDICALLY DISCHARGED FROM FORT EUSTIS, VIRGINIA ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1945. RECEIVED PURPLE HEART, NAVY COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, NEW YORK STATE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS AND NEW YORK STATE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE STAR.