World War II Honoree

John Dragalin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ansonia, Connecticut

Honored By

Margaret P. Dragalin

Relationship

Daughter

Corporal. Served 1941-1945. Inducted March 26, 1941 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Assigned to U.S. Army 208th Regiment, Coastal Artillery Anti-Aircraft Corps, 1st Battalion, Battery B. Trained on anti-aircraft guns at Camp Edwards, Western Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Regimental football team player and battery carpenter. Two days after Pearl Harbor attack, December 9, 1941, battery sent to Quincy, Massachusetts to provide coastal and shipyard defense for Boston area. Guns positioned on 'Great Hill'. Quartered at Legion Post. Battery shipped overseas February 18, 1942 for combat in the Southwest Pacific Theatre of Operations. Stationed at Townsville, Queensland, Australia to protect allied ships off-loading on Ross Creek Island. October 25, 1942, battery shipped into the New Guinea Island Campaign. Provided coastal and airfield defense in the Battle of Port Moresby. Participated in the largest airstrike when 174 Japanese aircraft deployed overhead on April 12, 1943. Sent to Dobodura-Oro Bay, New Guinea to provide defense for military installations and personnel from September 23, 1943 to June 17, 1944. June 23, 1944 to July 1, 1944, bivouacked on Toem Island. July 2, 1944 participated in beachhead landings in the Battle of Noemfoor Island during Operation Cyclone. Stationed on Noemfoor to March 8, 1945. Served as an MP (Military Policeman) for one month and assisted in prisoner transport. Battery shipped to Biak Island for airstrike defense from March 9, 1945 to June 14, 1945. Shipped to Subic Bay in the Philippines, arriving June 30, 1945. July 22, 1945, battery left for San Francisco arriving August 13, 1945. Japanese field surrender on August 14, 1945. Discharged August 27, 1945 from Fort Devens, Massachusetts.