World War II Honoree

Frank Fitch

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Francis 'Frank' Fitch

Relationship

Son

IN 1939, THE LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE WAS MERGED INTO THE U.S. COAST GUARD. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE COAST GUARD AS A CHIEF BOATSWAIN'S MATE AND SERVED ON THE CUTTERS OAK AND HICKORY IN THAT CAPACITY. LESS THAN TWO YEARS INTO THE WAR, HE WAS SELECTED FOR OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL AND ATTENDED THE FIRST CLASS AT SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE, NEW YORK CITY. GRADUATION IN 1943, AS A NEWLY MINTED ENSIGN FOR TEMPORARY SERVICE AND ON HIS WAY TO THE PACIFIC. ASSIGNED TO COAST GUARD MANNED LST 26 AND GOT HIS BUNK AT BUNA, NEW GUINEA. THE 26 WAS HIS HOME FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN SEVEN OPERATIONS AND THREE LANDINGS, INCLUDING LEYTE AND THE FIRST ASSAULT AT ZAMBOANGA, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WHILE UNDER CONTINUED AERIAL ATTACK. WAR'S END IN AUGUST 1945 BROUGHT HIM HOME.