World War II Honoree

Joseph Robert Conroy

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Honored By

William Fischer, Jr.

Relationship

Grateful Citizen

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 21 JANUARY 1943 AT SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA. SEA SERVICE FROM 20 JUNE 1943 TO 3 JANUARY 1946 AS PART OF THE COMMISSIONING CREW ABOARD USS PARKS (DE-165), WHICH SOON CONDUCTED PATROL AND ESCORT DUTY BETWEEN ESPIRITU SANTO, NEW HEBRIDES AND THE GUADALCANAL AREA BEFORE SUPPORTING THE INVASIONS OF SAIPAN AND GUAM. AFTER ESCORTING FORCES FOR THE PALAU AND ULITHI CAMPAIGNS, THE SHIP DID THE SAME FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. RETURNING TO CALIFORNIA FOR OVERHAUL IN LATE 1944, THE SHIP SAILED IN SPRING 1945 FOR THE MARSHALL ISLANDS TO CONDUCT ESCORT, AIR-SEA RESCUE, AND HUNTER-KILLER OPERATIONS. THE SHIP POST-WAR CONDUCTED DEMILITARIZATION OF THE JAPANESE GARRISON AT MILI ATOLL BEFORE MOVING TO THE UNITED STATES EAST COAST FOR DECOMMISSIONING IN JANUARY 1946, HAVING EARNED FOUR BATTLE STARS. SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE ON 8 JANUARY 1946 AT USN SEPARATION CENTER, SAMPSON, NEW YORK.