World War II Honoree

James Lawrence Dowd

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Mary Ellen Kaus

Relationship

Daughter

LIEUTENANT, U.S. NAVAL RESERVE. SERVED FROM MARCH 17, 1942 TO MAY 15, 1946, INITIALLY AS A STOREKEEPER, AND COMMISSIONED AS AN OFFICER ON JUNE 12, 1943. SERVED ABOARD THE OILER USS PATOKA (AO-9) ON PATROL DUTIES OFF BAHIA AND RECIFE, BRAZIL AND ALSO ACTED AS A SUPPLY SHIP FOR OTHER VESSELS OF TASK FORCE 23 WITH OCCASIONAL TRIPS TO PUERTO RICO AND TRINIDAD FOR REPLENISHMENT. FURTHER TRAINED AT U.S. NAVAL RESERVE STATION, FORT SCHUYLER, NEW YORK. TOOK COMMAND OF USS LCI(L)-667 AS AN ENSIGN UPON ITS COMMISSIONING AT GEORGE LAWLEY SHIPYARD, NEPONSET, MASSACHUSETTS ON MARCH 28, 1944. DEPARTED NORFOLK IN CONVOY USG-41 FOR EUROPE AND ASSIGNMENT TO DIVISION 22, GROUP 11, FLOTILLA 4, 8TH AMPHIBIOUS DIVISION. SERVED PRIMARILY MOVING TROOPS AND SUPPLIES BETWEEN BIZERTE, TUNISIA; SALERNO, POZZOULI & CIVITAVECHIA (ROME), ITALY; PALERMO, SICILY; BRIANDE BAY AND MARSEILLES, FRANCE AND ORAN AND MEIS EL KEBIK, ALGERIA. HIT THE BEACH WITH TROOPS AT ST TROPEZ, FRANCE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1944 IN THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. WAS REASSIGNED TO COMMANDER SERVICE FORCES ATLANTIC FLEET ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1944. JOINED LST-1060 AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN THE PACIFIC AND PERFORMED OCCUPATIONAL DUTY IN THE FAR EAST INCLUDING EXTENSIVE SERVICE BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND CHINA, INCLUDING HONG KONG. AWARDS INCLUDE NAVY COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE STAR FOR THE SOUTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGN, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, NAVY OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH JAPAN CLASP, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL AND CHINA SERVICE MEDAL.