World War II Honoree

Donald Allison

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Emery J. Kutney

Relationship

Son-in-Law

JOINED U.S. NAVY IN APRIL 1944. AFTER INITIAL TRAINING AT CAMP PERRY, VIRGINIA , ASSEMBLED IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA AS PART OF THE COMMISSIONING CREW OF THE HIGH SPEED TRANSPORT SHIP USS REGISTER (APD-92). AFTER A SHAKEDOWN CRUISE IN THE BRITISH WEST INDIES THE SHIP MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL EN ROUTE TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC. AFTER TRAINING WITH UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAMS IN PEARL HARBOR, GOT UNDERWAY ON APRIL 27, 1945 FOR ULITHI. AFTER BEING ANCHORED OFF HAGUSHI BEACH, WAS UNDERWAY TO THE SCREENING STATION WHEN ON MAY 20, 1945 A GROUP OF 4 JAPANESE ZEROS ATTACKED THE SHIP. HE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN DEFENDING THE SHIP, MANNING A 40MM GUN AND ACTING AS THE BRIDGE COMMUNICATOR. TWO PLANES WERE SPLASHED BUT ONE HIT THE SHIP'S KING POST. REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED IN OKINAWA AND LEYTE. PROVIDED ESCORT TO LST'S AND ESCORT CARRIERS. ALSO JOINED THE SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS OF THE USS INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35) CRUISER'S CREW AND PICKED UP 12 ON AUGUST 3, 1945. AFTER ESCORTING TRANSPORTS TO JAPAN AND SERVING HARBOR ENTRANCE PATROL AT WAKAYAMA AND NAGOYA IN OCTOBER 1945, HE MADE WAY BACK TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA AND WAS DISCHARGED. AWARDED A BATTLE STAR FOR ACTION IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.