World War II Honoree

James E. 'Jim' Costello

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Kansas City, Missouri

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE TRANSPORT SHIP USS HENRICO (AP-90). PARTICIPATED IN AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING EXERCISES AT LEYTE, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, IN FEBRUARY, 1945 IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF OKINAWA. THEN TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS TO SEIZE KERAMA RETTO, NEAR OKINAWA, IN MARCH, 1945. ON APRIL 2, 1945, DURING OPERATIONS AT OKINAWA, HIS SHIP WAS ATTACKED AND STRUCK BY A 'KAMIKAZE' SUICIDE AIRCRAFT. THE EXPLOSION CAUSED THE SHIP TO LOSE POWER AND CATCH FIRE. FIRES WERE PUT OUT, CONTROL REGAINED AND THE SHIP WAS ABLE TO RETIRE TO KERAMA RETTO FOR REPAIRS. A TOTAL OF 49 OFFICERS AND MEN WERE KILLED INCLUDING THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN AND AN EMBARKED DIVISION COMMANDER. USS HENRICO THEN RETURNED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ON MAY 13, 1945 FOR EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AND WAS THERE WHEN THE WAR ENDED. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION ‘MAGIC CARPET’ AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. THIS WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL BY WARSHIPS AND TRANSPORT VESSELS FROM THEATER TO THE U.S.A. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.