World War II Honoree

Joseph E. Errico, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New Haven, Connecticut

Honored By

Josephine, JoAnne, Martha, Diana and Joseph III

Relationship

Wife and Children

ENLISTED ON JANUARY 8, 1944 FOR ACTIVE DUTY AT NAVAL TRAINING STATION; SAMPSON, NEW YORK. SENT TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA FOR SEA DUTY ABOARD THE USS HOLT (DE-706) A DESTROYER, AS A FIREMAN IN THE ENGINEER DEPARTMENT. HIS SHIP ESCORTED 2 CARRIERS ALONG THE EAST COAST, SEARCHING FOR GERMAN U-BOATS. ON OCTOBER 14, 1944, THE SHIP SAILED THE PANAMA CANAL TO HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA, PATROLLED THE LEYTE GULF AND PROTECTED THE INVASION FORCE ON LEYTE ISLAND. SHOT DOWN ONE ENEMY BOMBER, ESCORTED A CONVOY TO THE INVASION OF MINDORO AND ASSISTED IN SHOOTING DOWN ONE BOMBER. IT SOLELY SHOT DOWN 2 MORE AND EVADED A SUICIDE BOMBER AND WITH CONTINUOUS GUNFIRE, RIPPED THE PLANE TO EXPLODE INTO THE SEA. WHILE GUARDING A TASK FORCE FOR THE INVASION OF LINGAYEN GULF, A SUICIDE BOMBER ATTEMPTED TO CRASH HIS SHIP, IT HIT THE WATER CLOSE TO THE PORT BOW. ON MARCH 27, HE JOINED A TASK FORCE, GIVING FIRE SUPPORT TO A COMBAT TEAM ASSAULTING MANILA BAY. HE THEN SAILED TO MOROTAI TO JOIN THE ASSAULT BY AUSTRALIAN FORCES ON TARAKAN ISLAND, BORNEO. ON JULY 4, 1945, HE ANCHORED AT ULITHI ATOLL THEN LEFT TO ESCORT A CONVOY TO OKINAWA AND LEYTE ISLAND. AFTER 15 MONTHS AND 68,719 MILES OF WAR DUTY, HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. FOR HIS EXPERIENCE AND DUTIES, HE WAS AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL WITH 2 BATTLE STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 BATTLE STAR, PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED MAY 9, 1946 AT LIDO BEACH, LONG ISLAND.