World War II Honoree

Anthony Kelczweski Wayne

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Schenectady, New York

Honored By

Michael Lynett

HE JOINED ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD TO ANTARCTICA IN 1939 ABOARD THE USS BEAR AG-29 ON HIS FINAL PRE-WWII EXPEDITION, FORMALLY CALLED THE UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC SERVICE EXPEDITION. AFTER THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE USS SAN DIEGO CL-53, ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED SHIPS OF WWII, AND SPENT TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. THE SHIP SUPPORTED THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE OF THE WAR, THE INVASION OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AT GUADALCANAL. HE LEFT THE NAVY AS A CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER.