World War II Honoree

Edward A. O'Donnell

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bayonne, New Jersey

Honored By

Children

JOINED THE NAVY IN SEPTEMBER, 1942. IN THE SPRING OF 1943, HE MET HIS SHIP - USS ELLYSON 454 IN PORTLAND, MAINE. THE ELLYSON WAS INVOLVED IN D-DAY. HE WORE STARS ON HIS EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN RIBBON FOR THE LANDINGS OF NORMANDY AND SOUTHERN FRANCE AND THE SINKING OF A GERMAN SUBMARINE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. IN JANUARY, 1945, THE ELLYSON SAILED TO THE PACIFIC AND WAS THE FIRST DESTROYER-MINESWEEPER TO REACH OKINAWA, JAPAN. THEY REMAINED UNTIL DECEMBER 5, 1945.