World War II Honoree

Steuart Lansing Pittman

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Manhattan, New York

Honored By

Family

SERVED IN CHINA TRAINING AND OPERATING WITH GUERRILLA GROUPS BEHIND JAPANESE LINES. TWO DAYS AFTER V-J DAY, HE WAS INVOLVED IN ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL NAVAL BATTLES OF THE WAR. HE WAS COMMANDING TWO CHINESE JUNKS CARRYING GUERRILLAS WHEN THEY WERE FIRED ON BY A JAPANESE JUNK IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. HIS FORCES COUNTERATTACKED, KILLING 43 AND TAKING 39 JAPANESE SAILORS PRISONER. HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR VALOR.