World War II Honoree

Joseph John Raulinaitis

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Honored By

William Fischer, Jr.

Relationship

Grateful Citizen

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 7 MARCH 1944 AT SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA. SEA SERVICE FROM 11 NOVEMBER 1944 TO 28 JANUARY 1946 ABOARD USS INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22) SUPPORTING OPERATIONS TO LIBERATE THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, FORMOSA, AND COASTAL INDOCHINA BEFORE SAILING FOR PEARL HARBOR IN EARLY 1945 FOR NEEDED REPAIRS. RETURNING TO ACTION, THE SHIP SUPPORTED THE INVASION OF OKINAWA, THEN PERFORMED AIR STRIKES AGAINST MAINLAND JAPAN BEFORE PERFORMING POST-WAR OCCUPATION DUTY FROM TOKYO BAY. FINAL SAILING WAS FOR OPERATION MAGIC CARPET CRUISES BRINGING US SERVICEMEN TO THE U.S. WEST COAST. SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE ON 4 FEBRUARY 1946 AT USN SEPARATION CENTER, BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND.