World War II Honoree

Ross Crombe

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Penfield, New York

Honored By

Raymond Crombe

Relationship

Son

JOINED THE NAVY IN JUNE 1942. AFTER BASIC TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES HE JOINED THE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE AND WAS SENT TO NEW ORLEANS. HE OPERATED A LCT (LANDING CRAFT TANK). THE LST THEY WERE ON WENT TO BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA. WORKED UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST, UP TO CAIRNS AT THE NORTH. ALONG THE WAY HE TRANSFERRED TO AIR CRAFT RESCUE AND OPERATED A CRASH BOAT. THEY WENT WITH A DESTROYER ESCORT TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS TO THE GULF OF LEYTE FOR THE FIRST INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AFTER LEYTE RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA. LATER WENT TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY HAD A 30-DAY LEAVE. DURING THEIR LEAVE, THE WAR ENDED. HE HAD 39 ½ POINTS, BUT NEEDED 40 TO BE DISCHARGED SO WAS ASSIGNED TO THE BON HOMME RICHARD IN THE SEA OF JAPAN. WHEN LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO, AS THEY WENT UNDER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, HE ACHIEVED THE 40 POINTS, BUT WAS NOW ABOARD SHIP. STOPPED IN HAWAII, AND HE STAYED AS THE SHIP WENT ON. HE WAITED SEVERAL MONTHS FOR A REPLACEMENT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO HEAD HOME. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO LEAVE AND HEADED HOME ON BOARD A FLEET TUG (THE GRAPPLE) WHILE TOWING A SUPPLY BARGE WITH ROOMS BUILT ON IT FOR PERSONS TO LIVE WHILE HEADING BACK TO THE STATES. THEY WENT THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL AND UP TO CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. FROM THERE THEY WENT TO LIDO BEACH, NEW YORK WHERE HE WAS DISCHARGED JANUARY 9, 1946.