World War II Honoree

Anthony M. 'Tony' Cominos

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Salinas, California

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVICE WITH THE U.S. MARITIME SERVICE (USMS) AT AGE 17. USMS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING MEN FOR THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE. ASSIGNED TO SHEEPSHEAD BAY TRAINING STATION IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK FOR BASIC SEAMAN TRAINING. THE MERCHANT MARINE WAS A CIVILIAN AUXILIARY OF THE U.S. NAVY THAT OPERATED A FLEET OF CIVILIAN-OWNED SHIPS THAT CARRIED CARGO AND PASSENGERS TO ALL FRONTS. SERVED AS AN ABLE SEAMAN ABOARD CARGO AND TANKER SHIPS IN BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEAN AREAS DURING THE WAR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND AWARDED THE ATLANTIC WAR ZONE MEDAL, PACIFIC WAR ZONE MEDAL, VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, AND HONORABLE SERVICE BUTTON. ISSUED THE MERCHANT MARINE SERVICE EMBLEM. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE, INCLUDING AS AN ARMY AVIATOR, AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL.