World War II Honoree

Lawrence Joseph Heisserer

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Kelso, Missouri

Honored By

Larry Heisserer

Relationship

Son

ENTERED ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942 AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED NOVEMBER 4, 1948. HE WAS A BOATSWAIN MATE 2ND CLASS. SERVED ON THE SS BENNINGTON, MS ROSEMONT, SS LEONIDAS, USS ELDORADO, USS WANTUCK AND US UNION. TRIPS OVERSEAS INCLUDE DAKAR, SENEGAL, ALGIERS, NORTH AFRICA. SAILED THROUGH THE MEDITERRANEAN AND SAW THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR. VISITED GLASGOW, SCOTLAND; LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND; SWANSEA, WALES; ALGIERS NORTH AFRICA; AND DAKAR, SENEGHAL. TOOK AN EXPEDITION TO POINT BARROW, ALASKA THE SUMMER OF 1948. SERVICE MEDALS: AMERICAN AREA CAMPAIGN, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN, EUROPEAN- AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. SAILED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL. THE ARMED GUARD SERVED ABOARD U.S. MERCHANT VESSELS. THEIR DUTY WAS TO PROTECT SHIP PERSONNEL AND VALUABLE CARGO BOUND FOR WAR ZONES. FROM 1942 THROUGH 1948, TRAINED AS A GUNNER AT GUNNERY SCHOOL IN GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI. KNEW HOW TO USE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING GUNS: 50-CALIBER MACHINE GUN, 20 MM ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN, 3-INCH, 38-CALIBER ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN AND A 5-INCH 38-CALIBER ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN.