World War II Honoree

Michael J. Ziemianek

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Honored By

William Fischer, Jr.

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 8 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA. FOREIGN SERVICE FROM 1 SEPTEMBER 1943 TO 12 JULY 1944 AT NAVAL OPERATING BASE, ICELAND. SEA SERVICE FROM 25 NOVEMBER 1944 TO 15 DECEMBER 1945 AS PART OF THE COMMISSIONING CREW ABOARD USS HUGH W. HADLEY (DD-774) IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT, PROBABLY DURING THE 11 MAY 1945 BATTLE IN WHICH THE SHIP, ON RADAR PICKET DUTY BETWEEN OKINAWA AND JAPAN, IS CREDITED WITH SHOOTING DOWN 23 JAPANESE KAMIKAZE AND BEING HIT BY FIVE PLANES AND BOMBS. THOUGH BADLY DAMAGED, THE SHIP REMAINED AFLOAT. THE CREW RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR THEIR HEROICS THAT DAY. SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE ON 30 OCTOBER 1946 AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.