World War II Honoree

Robert Bende

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Haddon Heights, New Jersey

Honored By

Chad R. Brick

Relationship

Grandson

ENLISTED JUNE 1943 AT AGE 17. REPORTED TO SAMSON NAVAL BASE, SENECA, NEW YORK FOR BOOT CAMP. TRAINING AT NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, TORPEDO SCHOOL AND MELVILLE, RHODE ISLAND FOR PATROL BOAT SCHOOL. DURING THIS TIME WAS ALSO ACTIVELY DEPLOYED NEAR MARTHA'S VINEYARD, CAPE COD, PATROLLING FOR ENEMY SUBMARINES AND CROSS TRAINING TO BECOME FULLY QUALIFIED AS AN ENGINEER, GUNNERS MATE AND QUARTERMASTER. SENT TO TREASURE ISLAND, CALIFORNIA FOR DEPLOYMENT TO THE PACIFIC. ATTACHED TO PT-367 IN SQUADRON 18 WITH THE 7TH FLEET. MISSIONS INCLUDED LAND AND SEA RESCUES, TROOP LANDING SUPPORT, ENEMY TERRITORY ISOLATION; PREVENTING SUPPLY SHIPS FROM REACHING THEIR DESTINATION AND TACTICAL INTERCEPTION OF JAPANESE VESSELS. PATROLLED MALACCA STRAIT, LEYTE GULF, NEW CALEDONIA, NEW GUINEA, GILBERT ISLANDS, MOROTAI AND HALMAHARA ISLANDS, SAMAR AND MINDANAO, BORNEO ISLAND AND WOENDI ISLAND. RECEIVED NAVAL COMMENDATION MEDAL, AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT, ACTS OF HEROISM, MERITORIOUS SERVICE AND LIFE SAVING EFFORTS.