World War II Honoree

Manuel Antone

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Newport, Rhode Island

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AT AGE 17, AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS IOWA (BB-61) DURING THE WAR. HIS SHIP PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS IN THE MARSHALL, CAROLINE, MARIANA, NEW GUINEA, PHILIPPINE, PALAU, RYUKYU, AND JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. DURING THE WARSHIP'S BOMBARDMENT OF MILI ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS ON MARCH 18, 1944, THE WARSHIP WAS HIT BY 2 ENEMY SHELLS FROM SHORE BATTERIES BUT SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. THE BATTLESHIP PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA ON JUNE 19, 1944, AND IN THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON OCTOBER 23-26, 1944. THE SHIP ALSO WEATHERED A DEADLY TYPHOON AT SEA ON DECEMBER 18, 1944. BB-61 WAS PRESENT AT THE SURRENDER OF SAGAMI BAY, JAPAN ON AUGUST 27, 1945, BEFORE PROCEEDING TO TOKYO BAY, JAPAN. THERE, THE BATTLESHIP PARTICIPATED IN THE OFFICIAL JAPANESE SURRENDER CEREMONY ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945, AND VICTORY OVER JAPAN (V-J DAY) WAS PROCLAIMED. FOLLOWING THE END OF HOSTILITIES, THE SHIP SERVED ON OCCUPATION DUTY, AND TOOK PART IN OPERATION ‘MAGIC CARPET.’ THIS WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL BY WARSHIPS AND TRANSPORT VESSELS FROM THEATER TO THE U.S.A. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘ASIA’ CLASP. AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE BY HIS BATTLESHIP IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JULY 4, 1945. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS.