World War II Honoree

James Edward 'Jim' Favell, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Superior, Wisconsin

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

AFTER GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE, HE WAS WAITING TO ATTEND NAVAL OFFICER SCHOOL IN 1942. UPON GRADUATION, HE WAS COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, MADE SEVERAL ATLANTIC CROSSINGS BEFORE BEING ASSIGNED TO A DESTROYER IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (NATOUSA), IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF SICILY IN JULY, 1943. LATER, SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AND PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. HE WAS IN COMMAND OF A LANDING CRAFT THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO BE THE LEAD SHIP IN A DIVERSIONARY ASSAULT LANDING ON OKINAWA ON APRIL 1, 1945. HE LED A FORCE OF 25 SHIPS THAT MADE A FEINT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OKINAWA, TO DISTRACT THE JAPANESE FROM THE MAIN INVASION ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ISLAND. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.