World War II Honoree

John Page

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE WAS THE ONLY SURVIVOR OF PT 509. ON AUGUST 16, 1944, SIX PT BOATS WERE PATROLLING THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, LESS THAN A MILE OFF OF JERSEY ISLAND, WHEN THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN A CONFRONTATION WITH A GERMAN MINESWEEPER IN THICK FOG AND SUFFERED ONE OF THEIR MOST HORRIBLE LOSSES OF THE WAR. PT 509 ACCIDENTALLY RAMMED THE GERMAN SHIP AND THE STUNNED GERMAN GUN CREW OPENED FIRE ON THE PT CREW. HE HAD MORE THAN 30 WOUNDS BUT SURVIVED THE ATTACK. HE WAS TAKEN ABOARD THE ENEMY SHIP WHERE HIS WOUNDS WERE TREATED. LATER, A SKILLED GERMAN SURGEON SAVED HIS LIFE AND HE REMAINED A PRISONER OF WAR UNTIL 1945. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.