World War II Honoree

Alexander Stanley Zekas

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Hartford, Connecticut

Honored By

Diana and David Serkosky

Relationship

Friends

HE SERVED IN THE MARINES FROM 1942 TO 1945. HE WAS STATIONED ON THE USS MISSOURI FROM HER COMMISSION IN 1944 TO THE END OF THE WAR. THE MISSOURI WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE SHORE BOMBARDMENT OF OKINAWA WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED AND HIT BY A KAMIKAZE. HE WAS ON DUTY AS AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNNER. THE 5 INCH GUNS WHICH WERE ABOVE HIS POSITION WERE BROUGHT TO BEAR AND FIRED ON THE LOW FLYING ZERO. THE CONCUSSION KNOCKED OUT HIS LEFT EAR PLUG. THE NEXT SHOT DAMAGED HIS EARDRUM AND HE WAS DEAF IN THAT EAR FROM THEN ON. HE WAS PRESENT FIVE MONTHS LATER THE WHEN THE JAPANESE SURRENDER CEREMONY TOOK PLACE ABOARD THE USS MISSOURI IN TOKYO BAY.