World War II Honoree

Dominic G. Zarlengo

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Denver, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank Machinist’s Mate First Class. Inducted into the United States Navy August 7, 1941 at Denver, Colorado. He completed basic training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Lexington AKA: Lady Lex, Aircraft Carrier CV-2 for duty. The Seagoing airbase and her shipmates participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea, against the Imperial Japanese Naval Aviators (Battle Dates: May 4-8, 1942) Location: South Pacific Theater of Operations. Friday, May 8, 1942 the Carrier came under attack, sustaining multiple aerial torpedo strikes, and dive bomber hits. The attack inflicted a tremendous amount of damage, and the crew began the long battle to save their ship and shipmates. The Ship’s Captain gave the order to abandon ship, after Lady Lex became unseaworthy, and she was scuttled by the Destroyer, USS Phelps (DD-218). Succeeding the Battle, he was reported missing in action or lost at sea. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. His missing in action status was amended, to read killed in action Sunday October 13, 1946. In his Memory and Honor, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice.