World War II Honoree

George Karl Petritz

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Rockford, Illinois

Honored By

George L. Petritz

Relationship

Son

HE COMMANDED A U.S. NAVY PATROL BOAT IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FROM THE MID 1941 UNTIL MAY 1942 WHEN HE WAS AMONG THE LAST OF U.S. FORCES TO SURRENDER ON THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR. HE WAS A PRISONER OF WAR UNTIL HIS ESCAPE IN DECEMBER, 1944. HE WAS ON A JAPANESE PRISON SHIP WHICH WAS BOMBED BY U.S. PLANES. THE SHIP WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED AND SINKING. IT WAS RUN AGROUND NEAR CUBI POINT. HE SWAM AWAY FROM THE NEAR SHORE AND OUT TO SEA. HE WAS PICKED UP BY PHILIPPINE GUERRILLAS. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER HE WAS REUNITED WITH U.S. FORCES. HE WAS AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS AND THE PURPLE HEART.