World War II Honoree

Joseph Benisch

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Central Islip, New York

Honored By

Michael McTiernan

On May 30, 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and received his boot training at Sampson New York. He was then assigned to AKA-35 with duty in the Atlantic Submarine patrol, and later was transferred to the Destroyer Woolsey, flagship of the Destroyer Squadron Thirteen the 'killer squadron'. On board the Woolsey, he was the Captain's personal phone talker during battle stations. During that cruise he went to Manila and on to the South China Sea, and eventually to Japan. During the last days of the war he was stationed at the Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina.