World War II Honoree

Joseph Prociak

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Plains Township, Pennsylvania

Honored By

A Grateful American

HE ENLISTED AT THE AGE OF 17 AND SERVED ON THE DESTROYER USS HUGHES, WHICH BOMBARDED JAPAN DURING WWII. THE SHIP ITSELF EARNED 14 BATTLE STARS IN SERVING THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC. WHILE SERVING, HE SURVIVED A KAMIKAZE ATTACK DURING WHICH MANY MEN WERE KILLED AND WOUNDED. IN ADDITION THE USS HUGHES WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. HE SUFFERED SHRAPNEL WOUNDS BUT FORTUNATELY WAS NOT INJURED SEVERELY. HE WAS DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS. RECIPIENT OF THE AMERICAN THEATER, MEDAL, ASIATIC PACIFIC MEDAL WITH THREE BRONZE STARS, THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE STARS, OCCUPATION OF JAPAN MEDAL, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, NAVY COMBAT RIBBON, THE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION MEDAL FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND SEVERAL OTHERS.