World War II Honoree

Sigmund A. Wesolowski

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Shirley, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES NAVY FROM SHIRLEY, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1942. BASIC TRAINING AND OFFICER'S CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME IN SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. WENT TO LITTLE CREEK, VIRGINIA FOR AMPHIBIOUS CORPS. TRAINING. THEN TO EVANSVILLE, INDIANA TO PICK UP HIS SHIP, LST 246. PROCEEDED DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO NEW ORLEANS. TRAINED IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. WENT THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL AND TO HAWAII ENROUTE TO THE PACIFIC THEATRE. JOINED 33RD AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDING CRAFT DIVISION. IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, LANDED ARTILLERY, TROOPS, AND AMMUNITION AT KWAJALEIN ATOLL AND ENEWETAK ATOLL. LANDED A MARINE CORPS DIVISION IN PALAU EQUIPMENT, AND AMMUNITION ON SAIPAN AND TINIAN ISLANDS. LATER WAS ASSIGNED TO STAFF OF LANDING CRAFT COMMODORE WAS BEACH MASTER. IN IWO JIMA TRANSFERRED SUPPLIES AND TROOPS INTO SHORE, AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS BACK TO HOSPITAL SHIP. IN THE LINGAYAN GULF MADE THE FIRST LANDING IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. LANDED MORE TROOPS IN LUZON. SERVED AS BEACH MASTER THERE. OFTEN UNDER AIR ATTACKS DURING HIS SERVICE IN THE PACIFIC. WAS INJURED, AND TRANSFERRED TO CHELSEA NAVAL HOSPITAL, MASSACHUSETTS. AWARDED THE WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION MEDAL. AS A LIEUTENANT SENIOR GRADE, HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN 1946.