World War II Honoree

Joseph W. Wojciechowski

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Seaman Second Class. He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS St Lo Aircraft Carrier, CVE-63 for duty as an on-the-job trainee. Thursday, October 12, 1944 the Carrier and her shipmates departed Seeadler Harbor Location: Papua, New Guinea to participate in the ‘Battle of Samar’ Philippine Islands. Wednesday, October 25, 1944 he was reported missing in action, lost as sea when the Seagoing Air Base was sunk, after an Imperial Japanese Zero Fighter Pilot flew his aircraft into the Warship. Its ordnances penetrated the flight deck, exploding in the hangar deck, where aircraft were being refueled and rearmed. Gasoline fires erupted, followed by detonations of the ship's torpedo and bomb magazines. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.