World War II Honoree

Robert W. von der Osten

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New York City, New York

Honored By

George Lee American Legion Post 532

ABOUT SIX WEEKS BEFORE PEARL HARBOR, HE WAS CALLED BEFORE THE LOCAL DRAFT BOARD. HE WAS CLASSIFIED 4F DUE TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND A SLIGHT HEART MURMUR. ON FEBRUARY 12, 1942, HE WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE U.S. NAVY. AFTER BOOT CAMP, HE WAS SENT TO RADIO SCHOOL AT NOROTON, CONNECTICUT. AT THIS TRAINING FACILITY, HE WAS MADE RADIOMAN 3RD CLASS. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO LST-388, A NEW LST COMMISSIONED ON NOVEMBER 20, 1942. AFTER LEAVING NEW YORK THEY HEADED FOR BERMUDA AND THEN CROSSED THE ATLANTIC HEADED TOWARD GIBRALTAR AND THEN ON TO ALGERIA, TUNISIA AND THEN TO THE INVASION OF ITALY AND SICILY. THEN WENT ON TO PALERMO, TRIPOLI, AND TARANTO. AFTER ITALY, THEY WERE HEADED TO ENGLAND. ON JUNE 5, 1944, THEY SET SAIL FOR FRANCE. THE CONVOY PROCEEDED SLOWLY UP THE COAST. ON JUNE 6, 1944, D-DAY, THERE WERE 500 MEN ONBOARD. NEWS CAME THAT THE INITIAL ASSAULT WAS SUCCESSFUL AND PROCEEDING ACCORDING TO PLAN. JUNE 7, 1944, THEY WERE CLOSE IN OFF THE INVASION COAST. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A SHORE BATTERY WOULD OPEN UP, SEVERAL SHELLS FELL NOT TOO FAR FROM THEIR SHIP. HE WAS GIVEN AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1945 AT THE U.S. NAVAL PERSONNEL SEPARATION CENTER, LIDO BEACH, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK HIS RATING AT DISCHARGE WAS RADIOMAN 1ST CLASS.