World War II Honoree

Edward E. Radke

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Sterling, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class. Inducted into the United States Navy June 14, 1943 at Chicago, Illinois, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon his graduation from boot camp and aircraft mechanics Schooling/Training, he was transferred to the USS St Lo Aircraft Carrier, CVE-63 for duty as an Aircraft Mechanic. 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 went down, after an Imperial Japanese Zero Fighter Pilot had flown 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.