World War II Honoree

William J. Waddington

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Central Islip, New York

Honored By

Michael McTiernan

He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on July 15, 1941. After his training at the Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island, he went to the Naval Training School at Chicago., Illinois. He then trained at the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. Aboard the Heavy Cruiser USS Tuscaloosa, he made several crossings of the North Atlantic on convoy duty to Murmansk, Russia. Upon being transferred to the USS Wasatch, he went to the Pacific Theatre of Operations. There, he served in the Philippine Islands, New Guinea, Morotai, Luzon, Mindanao, Borneo and Manus. His awards include the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with five Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Stars, the American Defense Ribbon, the European-African Theatre Ribbon with two Stars, and the American Theatre of Operations Ribbon with two Stars. After four years and three months of service, he was discharged at Lido Beach, New York.