World War II Honoree

John William Cornelius

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

East Dubuque, Illinois

SERVED ABOARD THE USS SARATOGA AND USS BARTON DD-599. HE WAS ON GERMAN SUBMARINE PATROL IN THE ATLANTIC AND THEN IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS AND THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL WHEN HIS SHIP WAS SUNK, DURING THE SAME BATTLE IN WHICH THE FIVE SULLIVAN BROTHERS WERE KILLED WHEN THEIR SHIP WAS SUNK. IN HONOR OF HIS HEROISM AND SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY, HE WAS INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A TOUR AND TEA WITH ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.