World War II Honoree

Joseph Edward Poch

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Honored By

William Fischer, Jr.

Relationship

Grateful Citizen

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 17 SEPTEMBER 1943 AT SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA. SEA SERVICE FROM 6 MAY 1944 TO 2 DECEMBER 1945 ABOARD USS CHASE (DE-142/APD-54), DEPARTING BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER FOLLOWING CONVERSION TO A TRANSPORT. THE SHIP SUPPORTED THE INVASION OF OKINAWA AND PATROLLED OFF THE COAST UNTIL DAMAGED BY A KAMIKAZE ATTACK AND TOWED TO KERAMA RETTO FOR INITIAL REPAIR, THEN TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ARRIVING 11 OCTOBER 1945. SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE ON 2 DECEMBER 1945 AT USN SEPARATION CENTER, BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND.