World War II Honoree

Steuart Lansing Pittman

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Manhattan, New York

Honored By

An Indebted American

IN 1941 WENT TO WORK FOR PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS, MANAGING AN AIRPORT IN KENYA (A VITAL LINK IN A HUSH-HUSH SUPPLY CHAIN TO THE MIDDLE EAST). NEXT HELPED OPERATE THE CHINA NATIONAL AIRLINE COMPANY, WHICH FLEW OVER 'THE HUMP' FROM INDIA TO CHINA TO SUPPLY VITAL WAR MATERIAL TO THE CHINESE RESISTANCE THAT WAS BATTLING JAPANESE OCCUPATION. RETURNED HOME IN 1943 AND ENLISTED IN THE MARINES. WAS DISPATCHED TO CHINA TO TRAIN AND OPERATE WITH GUERRILLA GROUPS DEEP BEHIND JAPANESE LINES. TWO DAYS AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER, WAS INVOLVED IN THE LAST NAVAL BATTLE OF THE WAR. COMMANDED ONE OF TWO JUNK SHIPS THAT ENCOUNTERED A LARGE JAPANESE JUNK WITH A CANNON ABOARD. THE JAPANESE DID NOT KNOW THE WAR WAS OVER AND FIRED ON THEM. HIS JUNK AND THE OTHER CRAFT FIRED BAZOOKAS AND TOMMY GUNS TO KNOCK OUT THE JAPANESE CANNON AND DEFEAT THE ENEMY SHIP. HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AT EAST CHINA COAST ON AUGUST 21, 1945.