World War II Honoree

Thomas G. Pagano

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New Haven, Connecticut

Honored By

Pat & Janet

Relationship

Daughters

SERVED IN THE ELECTRICAL DIVISION AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATING POWER FOR THE STEAM TURBINE ABOARD THE USS NEWCOMB. OTHER DUTIES WERE REPAIRING EARPHONES, CHECKING CIRCUITS FOR SALT WATER CORROSION AND REPAIRING LIGHT FIXTURES. WHEN THE GENERAL QUARTER BELL SOUNDED, HE RACED TOPSIDE TO MAN ONE OF THE 40 MILLIMETER GUNS. JUST BEFORE REACHING IWO JIMA, HE WAS INJURED BY SHRAPNEL THAT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE PART OF A FINGER. AS A RESULT OF THIS INJURY, HIS STATION WAS CHANGED TO THE AFTER STIRRING ROOM. HE WOULD NOT HAVE LIVED TO TELL THIS STORY HAD HE NOT BEEN INJURED, AS THE MID SECTION OF THE SHIP, WHERE HE WAS ORIGINALLY STATIONED, WAS DESTROYED BY JAPANESE KAMIKAZE AIRCRAFT.