World War II Honoree

John Michael Bender

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Binghamton, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Seaman First Class. Inducted into the United States Navy January 6, 1942 with induction at New York City, New York, completing recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Newport, Rhode Island. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Monssen Destroyer, DD-798 for duty as an on-the-job trainee. Thursday, November 12, 1942 the Destroyer and her shipmates, along with an armada of U.S. Warships Rendezvous’ off-shore of Guadalcanal Island Location: South Western Pacific Theater of Operations. The task force intercepted an Imperial Japanese Naval fleet, which was en-route to Guadalcanal to relieve their beleaguered armed forces fighting on the island. Thursday, November 12, 1942 he was reported missing in action, when the Destroyer was sunk by enemy naval cannon fire, during his participation in the Battle-of-Guadalcanal. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Orwell Valley Cemetery Rome, Pennsylvania. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.