World War II Honoree

John Edward Berry

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE LEFT HIGH SCHOOL TO JOIN THE NAVAL SERVICE. HE WAS SWORN INTO THE NAVY AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON JANUARY 31, 1942. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT THE GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THE NAVY DESIGNATED HIM AS A MACHINIST'S MATE. HE SERVED ONBOARD THE USS MOUNT VERNON (AP-22), A TROOP TRANSPORT; AND USS GRIFFIN (AS-13), A SUBMARINE TENDER. HE WAS SENT TO SUBMARINE BASE 128, HAWAII AND THEN TO HIS PERMANENT DUTY STATION AS SHIPS COMPANY ON THE USS OMMANEY BAY (CVE-79). HIS SHIP WAS COMMISSIONED FEBRUARY 11, 1944 AND SUNK BY A KAMIKAZE AIRCRAFT ON JANUARY 4, 1945, THE SHIP'S FIRST DECISIVE BATTLE IN THE PACIFIC. HE FLOATED ALONE IN THE PACIFIC FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE HE WAS RESCUED BY THE USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48). WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE NAVAL STATION PEARL HARBOR AND THEN ON TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FOR TREATMENT. RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AND PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WHERE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.