World War II Honoree

John A. Putorti

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Whitehall, New York

Honored By

Michael Lynett

SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY DURING WWII ONBOARD THE USS WALKER DD-517. HE WAS ENGAGED IN ACTIVE COMBAT OPERATIONS BOTH IN THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC THEATERS OF WAR. HE PARTICIPATED IN MORE THAN EIGHT MAJOR BATTLE CAMPAIGNS ACROSS THE PACIFIC. THE USS WALKER WAS THE FIRST U.S. NAVY SHIP TO FIRE DIRECTLY UPON JAPAN JUST BEFORE THE DROPPING OF ATOMIC WEAPONS ON THE JAPANESE CITIES OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI AND THE CESSATION OF WWII.