World War II Honoree

J. F. Austin

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Wilson, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY, AND ATTENDED NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY WHERE HE WAS COMMISSIONED A NAVY ENSIGN. TRAVELED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1943 TO PREPARE FOR OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE AMMUNITION SHIP USS LASSEN (AE-3). PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS IN 1944, AT OKINAWA GUNTO IN 1945, AND 3RD FLEET OPERATIONS AGAINST JAPAN IN 1945. HIS SHIP ARRIVED AT MAJURO ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS ON FEBRUARY 2, 1944, AND REPLENISHED FLEET SHIPS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, AND THEN AT MANUS ISLAND IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO. SERVED AS PART OF THE FLEET SUPPLY TRAIN AT KOSSOL PASSAGE, PALAU ISLANDS IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO FROM SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 2, 1944; AND THEN AT ULITHI ATOLL IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO FROM OCTOBER 4-NOVEMBER 18, 1944. IT WAS THEN THAT HIS SHIP EARNED ITS FIRST BATTLE STAR, RODE OUT A SEVERE TYPHOON, AND EXPERIENCED THEIR FIRST ENEMY AIRCRAFT ATTACK. RETURNED TO THE CAROLINE ISLANDS IN FEBRUARY, 1945. SUPPORTED RAIDS ON OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS FROM MARCH 13-JUNE 14, 1945. THE SHIP OPERATED OFF JAPAN SUPPORTING AIR STRIKES FROM JULY 8-AUGUST 6, 1945. USS LASSEN WAS OPERATING OUT OF SAN PEDRO BAY, LEYTE, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON VICTORY OVER JAPAN (V-J) DAY (SEPTEMBER 2, 1945). THE VESSEL DEPARTED THEATER EN ROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES ON OCTOBER 25, 1945. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.