World War II Honoree

Aldo John "James" Andreoni

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Passaic County, New Jersey

Honored By

William Fischer, Jr.

Relationship

Grateful Citizen

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 23 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK. SEA SERVICE FROM 2 NOVEMBER 1942 TO 16 FEBRUARY 1944 ABOARD THE USS SAVANNAH (CL-42) SUPPORTING THE OPERATION TORCH INVASION OF NORTH AFRICA, THEN JOINED THE SOUTH ATLANTIC PATROL OFF BRAZIL IN EARLY 1943. AFTER REFIT IN NEW YORK HARBOR, THE SHIP PROVIDED FIRE SUPPORT FOR OPERATION HUSKY, THE INVASION OF SICILY, AND OPERATION AVALANCHE, THE INVASION OF SALERNO, ITALY, WHERE THE SHIP TOOK A DIRECT HIT, KILLING MORE THAN 200 CREWMEMBERS. AFTER EMERGENCY REPAIRS AT MALTA, THE SHIP STEAMED TO THE PHILADELPHIA NAVAL YARD FOR MAJOR REPAIRS, ARRIVING IN LATE DECEMBER 1943. FURTHER SEA SERVICE PERFORMED FROM 12 JUNE 1944 TO 24 MAY 1945 AS PART OF THE COMMISSIONING CREW ABOARD THE USS VICKSBURG (CL-86). AFTER CONDUCTING TRIALS AND TRAINING OFF THE EAST COAST, THE SHIP DEPARTED FOR PEARL HARBOR ON 1 JANUARY 1945, THEN CONDUCTED FIRE SUPPORT FOR THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA. MOVING AS PART OF A CARRIER BATTLE GROUP OFF OKINAWA, THE SHIP HELPED DEFEND THE CARRIERS BY SHOOTING DOWN EIGHT JAPANESE AIRCRAFT, AND SOON AFTER PROVIDED FIRE SUPPORT FOR THE INVASION. SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE ON 24 NOVEMBER 1945 AT USN SEPARATION CENTER, LIDO BEACH, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.