World War II Honoree

Harry Jacob Wagner

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Linden, California

Honored By

Alma, Judy, and Jim Wagner

Relationship

Wife and Children

He enlisted in the United States Navy on December 28, 1942 and took boot camp at Avalon, Catalina Island Maritime Training Station in California. He finished training as a Fireman Third Class on May 23, 1943, and he was transferred to San Francisco for assignment. He was assigned to the SS Matsonia, a luxury liner operated by Matson Navigation Company and converted to a wartime troop ship. He spent his entire naval tour of duty on this ship, making many voyages from the West Coast of the United States to the Pacific war zones. He was honorably discharged on March 27, 1945.