World War II Honoree

Robert Erly

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE U.S. NAVY DURING WWII. HE WAS ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS CASSIN AT PEARL HARBOR ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. AS BOMBS FELL ON THE USS CASSIN, THE DESTROYER, USS DOWNES AND THE BATTLESHIP USS PENNSYLVANIA WHICH WERE ALL IN DRY-DOCK, HE ORGANIZED A FIREFIGHTING SQUAD ON THE BURNING SHIPS TO HOSE DOWN TORPEDOES AND DEPTH CHARGES TO LIMIT FURTHER DAMAGE. AFTER THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK HE SERVED ON DESTROYERS IN THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC. HE WAS AWARDED THE NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL WITH COMBAT DEVICE. HE RETIRED AS A REAR ADMIRAL.