World War II Honoree

Joseph Ciannilli, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Old Forge, Pennsylvania

Honored By

William Fischer, Jr.

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 28 MAY 1943 AT DUPONT, PENNSYLVANIA. SEA SERVICE FROM 28 MAY 1943 TO 24 JANUARY 1946 ABOARD THE USS TUSCALOOSA (CA-37), WITH NORTH SEA OPERATIONS WITH THE BRITISH FLEET OUT OF SCAPA FLOW, SCOTLAND, INCLUDING OPERATIONS AGAINST NAZI-OCCUPIED NORWAY. FOLLOWING REFITTING ALONG THE US EAST COAST, THE SHIP PARTICIPATED IN SHORE BOMBARDMENT OF THE NORMANDY COAST DURING THE D-DAY LANDINGS. LATER, THE SHIP PERFORMED FIRE SUPPORT FOR OPERATION ANVIL-DRAGOON, THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. RETURNING TO THE EAST COAST FOR REFITTING, THE SHIP STEAMED TO THE PACIFIC AND PROVIDED FIRE SUPPORT FOR TROOP LANDINGS ON IWO JIMA, THEN OKINAWA. IN THE IMMEDIATE POST-WAR, USS TUSCALOOSA STEAMED TO SUPPORT OCCUPATION OPERATIONS IN CHINA AND KOREA, THEN CARRIED AMERICAN TROOPS FROM SHANGHAI, AND LATER FROM SOUTH PACIFIC OUTPOSTS AS PART OF "MAJIC CARPET" DEMOBILIZATION CRUISES TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE ON 24 JANUARY 1946 AT U.S. NaVY SEPARATION CENTER, BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND.