World War II Honoree

Anton J. Balsis

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Linda Sandell

Relationship

Niece

INDUCTED AT 18 YEARS OF AGE ON APRIL 13, 1943 AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN AT THE NAVAL RECRUITING CENTER IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. WAS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION TRAINING CENTER IN WILMINGTON, VIRGINIA WHERE HE TRAINED UNTIL AUGUST 26, 1943. HE WAS THEN GIVEN AN S 2/C(CB) CLASSIFICATION. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS WITH 105TH NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION THAT DEPARTED PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA ON THE TROOPSHIP SS SEA DEVIL WITH THE DESTINATION OF NEW GUINEA. ARRIVED AT MILNE BAY, NEW GUINEA ON JANUARY 13, 1944 AND WAS STATIONED AT STRINGER BAY. IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, HE WAS SENT TO HILMOI AND GAMADODO, NEW GUINEA TO HELP BUILD A SAWMILL, A PIER FOR LIBERTY SHIPS AND A HOSPITAL. ON APRIL 1ST, HE RETURNED TO STRINGER BAY AND REMAINED THERE UNTIL OCTOBER, 1944 WORKING ON VARIOUS BASE PROJECTS. IN JUNE 1944, HE WAS GIVEN THE RANK OF S 1/C (CB) SV V6. HE LEFT NEW GUINEA IN OCTOBER FOR FOR TECLOBAN, LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE CONTINUED TO SERVE THERE UNTIL NOVEMBER, 1945. HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE 61ST NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION FOR DUTY WHICH WAS SOMEWHERE IN SAMAR. IN LATE NOVEMBER, 1945 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 33RD SPECIAL NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION AND RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES ON NOVEMBER 27, 1945 ARRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO. AFTER THAT HE RETURNED TO CHICAGO AND WAS RELEASED FROM SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 14, 1946. RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING AWARDS: ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.