World War II Honoree

William H. Creswick

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE SURVIVED PEARL HARBOR AND HAD A 20-YEAR CAREER WITH THE U.S. NAVY. HE WAS A MACHINIST ABOARD THE USS SELFRIDGE WHICH PATROLLED THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. THE DESTROYER, THE LAST ONE INTO THE HARBOR ON DECEMBER 6, 1941 MADE IT OUT SAFELY THE NEXT DAY. HE VOLUNTEERED TO WORK AS AN OFFICER ABOARD THE USS MASON, THE FIRST NAVAL DESTROYER WITH A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK CREW. BLACK SAILORS HAD NEVER BEEN GIVEN THIS KIND OF OPPORTUNITY.