World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Thomas Gaffney
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Central Islip, New York
Honored By
Michael McTiernan
On August 8th, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. His boot training was completed at Newport Rhode Island and then he was sent to Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois for advanced training. Aboard the Assault Cargo AKA-22, 3rd Division, he served in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. He participated in the campaigns against Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and two Battle Stars. After serving three years in the Navy, one of which was in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, he was honorably discharged from the Lido Beach, New York Separation Center on August 20, 1945.