World War II Honoree

Sylvan Irwin Polunsky

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

San Angelo, Texas

Honored By

Joe Fields

IN 1945 HIS ROTC CLASS, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, IN THEIR SEVENTH SEMESTER, WERE CALLED UP BY THE NAVY, COMMISSIONED ENSIGNS AND SENT TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC. HE WAS AN OFFICER ABOARD THE LANDING CRAFT INFANTRY GUNBOAT 68 AND SUBSEQUENTLY SERVED AS SUPPLY, COMMUNICATIONS, GUNNERY AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE U.S. SEVENTH FLEET INVASION OF BRUNEI BAY, BORNEO AND FOR THREE DAYS FOLLOWED MINESWEEPERS DESTROYING THE MANY JAPANESE MINES IN THE HARBOR SO AUSTRALIAN TROOPS COULD LAND. THEY HAD GIVEN GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR A MILITARY BASE MIDWAY BETWEEN MANILA AND SINGAPORE, VIRTUALLY CHOKED OFF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND OPENED NEW FIELDS FOR ALLIED BOMBERS. THEY WERE THEN SENT TO BUCKNER BAY, OKINAWA, TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN.