World War II Honoree

Robert George Radke

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Ripon, Wisconsin

Honored By

Garrett Radke

Relationship

Grandson

PETTY OFFICER ASSIGNED TO CLERICAL DUTY ON USS PC-557, A SUB CHASER. COMMISSIONED: OCTOBER 15, 1942. ACCOMPANIED TRANSPORTS AND SERVED AS BEACON SHIPS TO LEAD VARIOUS LANDING CRAFT TOWARD SHORE DURING ASSAULTS. OPERATED AS PATROL CRAFT FOR SUBMARINES AND FLOATING MINES. SERVED IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. MAY 1, 1943: LEAVES STATEN ISLAND. MAY 5: ARRIVES AT THE U.S. NAVAL SECTION BASE, BERMUDA. MAY 9: LEAVES BERMUDA FOR GIBRALTAR WITH A CONVOY OF 72 SHIPS. MAY 24: ARRIVES IN MEDITERRANEAN. MAY 26: ANCHORS IN HARBOR IN ARZEW, ALGERIA. JULY 9-10: OFF SOUTH EAST COAST OF SICILY NEAR SCOGLITTI DURING THE INVASION OF SICILY. JULY-SEPTEMBER: LED LANDING CRAFT AND ACCOMPANIED NAVAL SHIPS AND TRANSPORTS BETWEEN ALGERIA/TUNISIA AND SICILY/NAPLES. AUGUST 6: DOCKED IN BIZERTE, TUNISIA WHEN THE CITY IS BOMBED BY GERMAN AIRCRAFT. SEPTEMBER 9: SHIP IS HIT BY GERMAN 88MM SHELLS DURING INVASION OF ITALY (NEAR NAPLES) AT THE GULF OF SALERNO. FEBRUARY 23, 1944: SERVICE CONTINUES. USS PC-557 CONTINUES IN MEDITERRANEAN SERVICE UNTIL IT IS DECOMMISSIONED, RENAMED AND TRANSFERRED TO THE FRENCH NAVY AT TOULON, FRANCE ON OCTOBER 27, 1944. MAY 26-JULY 9: OPERATIONS IN TUNISIA. AUGUST 15-SEPTEMBER 25: INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE.