World War II Honoree

Jack Ralph Amende, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Seattle, Washington

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: MAJOR. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS PILOT, WHO FLEW THE F4U-1D CORSAIR FIGHTER-BOMBER AND SERVED ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS WASP CV-18 IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HE WAS COMMANDER OF THE MARINE ATTACK SQUADRON VMF-217 ATTACHED TO THE MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP-81. ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1945 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING A LOW LEVEL AIR STRIKE RAID AGAINST A MAJOR JAPANESE AIRFIELD OVER THE ISLAND OF HONSHU, JAPAN. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION, LOST AT SEA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1946 AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE HONOLULU MEMORIAL OF THE PACIFIC, ‘PUNCHBOWL’ HAWAII. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, PURPLE HEART, NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING WAS AWARDED TO THE MAJOR (POSTHUMOUSLY) FOR SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS BY HEROISM OR EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AN AERIAL FLIGHT AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.