World War II Honoree

Jack L. Fons

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC WITH MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT (MTB) SQUADRONS SOUTH PACIFIC. FURTHER ASSIGNED TO MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT SQUADRON 19 (RON 19), BASED IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. SERVED AS AN ENSIGN AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF PT-235, NICKNAMED 'REBEL'. PARTICIPATED IN THE TREASURY-BOUGAINVILLE AND BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO OPERATIONS. HIS BOAT PATROLLED COASTAL WATERS TO INTERDICT ENEMY RE-SUPPLY VESSELS, ATTACK ENEMY SHORE POSITIONS, SEARCH FOR DOWNED PILOTS, AND PERFORM GUARD AND SPECIAL PATROL MISSIONS. ABOUT MAY 15, 1944, HIS BOAT WAS REASSIGNED TO MTB SQUADRON 20, LOCATED ON GREEN ISLAND BETWEEN BOUGAINVILLE IN THE SOLOMONS AND NEW IRELAND IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.