World War II Honoree

Robert F. Eisen

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Glendale, New York

Honored By

George Weck

Relationship

Friend

IN 1942, HE ENTERED THE U.S. NAVY AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER AND WAS INITIALLY ASSIGNED AS A SEAMANSHIP INSTRUCTOR AT THE NAVAL STATION (INDOCTRINATION), FORT SCHUYLER, NEW YORK. WHILE SERVING AS DECK OFFICER ABOARD A SUBMARINE CHASER ESCORTING A MERCHANT CONVOY OUT OF GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, HIS SHIP SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE DURING THE GREAT ATLANTIC HURRICANE OF SEPTEMBER 1944. HE LATER TRANSFERRED TO AN ATTACK CARGO SHIP OPERATING IN THE PACIFIC DELIVERING WAR SUPPLIES TO THE ISLANDS OF TARAWA, MAJURO, KWAJALEIN, CANTON, AND ESPIRITU SANTO. IN 1945, HE WAS A PART OF A SMALL CONTINGENT OF U.S. MILITARY SHIPS AND PERSONNEL THAT HELPED MAINTAIN A PRESENCE ON WAKE ISLAND FOLLOWING THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE GARRISON. HE ENDED THE WAR AS A LIEUTENANT SENIOR GRADE.