World War II Honoree

Valentine Pistilli

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Americo V. Vasso

Relationship

Brother-in-Law

SERVED IN THE PACIFIC ON THE USS MERTZ (DD-691). PARTICIPATED IN BATTLE ACTIONS THAT INCLUDED THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, MARIANA ISLANDS CAMPAIGN, SAIPAN, PELELIEU AND ANGUAR IN THE PALAU ISLANDS. SERVED AT THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FROM OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 25, 1944 AND PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, LANDINGS AT IWO JIMA AND THE RAIDS ON OKINAWA. THE USS MERTZ RECEIVED TEN BATTLE STARS AND HE WAS INVOLVED IN ALL THOSE BATTLES.