World War II Honoree

Leon Nowak

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Carteret, New Jersey

Honored By

Andrew Sumutka

Relationship

Nephew

SEAMAN FIRST CLASS. VOLUNTEERED AND ENTERED THE U.S. COAST GUARD ON MAY 19, 1942. AFTER BOOT CAMP AT THE U.S. COAST GUARD YARD, CURTIS BAY, MARYLAND, WAS SENT TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA AND THEN FURTHER ASSIGNED TO A FIREBOAT CREW AT THE ELIZABETH CITY COAST GUARD STATION, NORTH CAROLINA. AFTER ONE YEAR OF DUTY THERE, RETURNED TO NORFOLK TO MAN ANOTHER FIREBOAT. UPON COMPLETION OF THIS TOUR, WAS SENT TO ELECTRICIAN SCHOOL IN GROTON, CONNECTICUT. ON GRADUATION IN THE FALL OF 1944, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE DESTROYER ESCORT USS MARCHAND, ONE OF THIRTY NAVY DESTROYER ESCORTS MANNED ENTIRELY BY COAST GUARD CREWS. WHILE ON BOARD THE USS MARCHAND, DURING THE LATE FALL AND WINTER OF 1944-1945, ESCORTED TWO CONVOYS FROM NEW YORK CITY TO PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND. TRANSFERRED TO NAVAL STATION EARLE, MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. SERVED AS A GUARD AND ESCORT FOR AMMUNITION SHIPS ENTERING AND LEAVING THE STATION. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN MAY 1946.