World War II Honoree

Joseph Oppewall, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Whitinsville, Massachusetts

Honored By

Joseph, Jr, Shirley, Gerald and Amanda

Relationship

Sons and Daughters

TOOK BOOT CAMP TRAINING AT NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND NAVAL STATION. ATTENDED HENRY FORD TRADE SCHOOL AT DEARBORN, MICHIGAN AND MORE SCHOOLING AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING CENTER. SENT TO BREMERTON, WASHINGTON FOR ASSIGNMENT TO AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS LEXINGTON THAT WAS AT THE TIME IN DRYDOCK. LATER SAILED TO SAN DIEGO TO PICK UP ALL OF THE AIRCRAFT THE CARRIER COULD CARRY TO HAWAII. THE LEXINGTON WAS AT SEA AT THE TIME OF THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR. THE SHIP WAS SUNK IN THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA AFTER HAVING SUNK THREE ENEMY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE BATTLESHIP, USS ALABAMA AS A MACHINIST'S MATE AND AFTER CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES SAILED TO CONTINENTAL U.S. ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS MASSACHUSETTS FOR SEPARATION FROM THE SERVICE.