World War II Honoree

John Edward Cridland

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Johnston, New York

Honored By

Michael Lynett

COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN IN THE U.S. NAVY IN MARCH OF 1943 AND ATTENDED MINE WARFARE SCHOOL. HE WAS ASSIGNED AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF YARD MINESWEEPER YMS-17 AND DEPLOYED TO THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA OF OPERATIONS. THERE HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE AND TOOK COMMAND OF THE YMS-17 IN THE MEDITERRANEAN WHERE THEY CLEARED MINES AND AT ONE POINT ENGAGED IN AN INTENSE BATTLE WITH SHORE BATTERIES AT MONTONE, FRANCE. AS THE HOSTILITIES LESSENED IN EUROPE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND TOOK COMMAND OF THE OCION MINESWEEPER, USS BUOYANT AM-153 UNTIL RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN THE SPRING OF 1946.