World War II Honoree

Walter Charles Orloski

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Avoca, Pennsylvania

Honored By

William Fischer, Jr.

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 11 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA. SERVED ABOARD THE USS STEMBEL (DD-644) FROM JULY 1943 TO OCTOBER 1945 AS PART OF ITS COMMISSIONING CREW. THE SHIP SUPPORTED AIR STRIKES AGAINST JAPANESE TARGETS IN THE MARSHALL AND CAROLINE ISLANDS, THEN SUPPORTED LANDING OPERATIONS AT AITAPE, NEW GUINEA, AND SERVED AS FLAGSHIP OF LST FLOTILLA 16 TO SUPPORT THEIR LANDING OPERATIONS ON GUAM. THE SHIP ENTERED LEYTE GULF AND PROVIDED CLOSE SUPPORT FOR THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND LATER AT MINDORO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FOLLOWING KAMAKAZI ATTACKS IN JANUARY 1945, THE SHIP TOOK ON 350 SAILORS FROM THE DISABLED KITKUN BAY (CVE-71), AND LATER PROVIDED CLOSE SUPPORT FOR LANDING OPERATIONS ON IWO JIMA. THE SHIP RESCUED SEVERAL DOWNED NAVAL AVIATORS FROM THE USS WASP (CV-18) AND USS HANCOCK (CV-19) FOLLOWING AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE KYUSHU ISLANDS. IN MAY 1945, THE SHIP HELPED EXTINGUISH FIRES ABOARD THE USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17) OFF OKINAWA, THEN SHELLED TARGETS ON HONSHU IN JULY AND AUGUST 1945, BEFORE RETURNING TO PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON, THE FOLLOWING MONTH. DISCHARGED ON 20 DECEMBER 1945 AT USN SEPARATION CENTER, BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND.