World War II Honoree

William John Marchetti

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Shirley, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church, III

ENTERED FROM WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1943. BASIC TRAINING AT WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA. SENT TO CONSTRUCTION BATTALION (SEABEES) TRAINING, AT NAVAL CONSTRUCTION TRAINING CENTER, WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA. SENT TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA WAITING ORDERS. ASSIGNED TO CONSTRUCTION BATTALION MAINTENANCE UNIT CBMU-557. AFFILIATED WITH THE ARMY'S 89TH REPLACEMENT BATTALION. WHILE IN TRANSIT TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC ON BOARD THE USS KENMORE AK-221, PAINTED THE SHIP SITTING IN BOATSWAIN'S CHAIR HELD BY A ROPE OVER THE SIDE WHILE THE SHIP WAS UNDERWAY. WENT TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND NUMEROUS OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDS. EXPANDED, IMPROVED, AND MAINTAINED AIRCRAFT RUNWAYS ON VARIOUS ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AFTER ISLANDS WERE TAKEN OVER FROM THE JAPANESE BY U.S. TROOPS. LAST FEW MONTHS OF SERVICE AT PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE NAVAL PRISON AS A PRISON GUARD. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. AS A PAINTER SECOND CLASS PETTY OFFICER, HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN 1946.