World War II Honoree

Edward Stanley Racisz

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Seaman First Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy October 23, 1940 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Served aboard the USS California Battleship, BB-44 and based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands. On Sunday Morning, December 7, 1941 the Emperor of Japan’s Naval Aviators launched a devastating, surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base and other military installation on Oahu. The Battleship along with her shipmates was moored on Ford Island, when the warship was attacked by two Torpedo Bombers. She was hit forward and aft by two torpedo warheads causing severe flooding, and slowly settled to the bottom of the bay. The Battle of Pearl Harbor took his life on the day of the attack, and interred in the Oahu Nuuanu Cemetery, Territory of Hawaii. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Sailor requested that his remains be buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific ‘Punchbowl’, with interment June 16, 1949. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.