World War II Honoree

John Joseph Wippich

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Honored By

William Fischer, Jr.

Relationship

Grateful Citizen

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 14 MARCH 1944 AT SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA. SEA SERVICE FROM 10 JUNE 1944 TO 15 OCTOBER 1945 AS PART OF THE COMMISSIONING CREW ABOARD USS VICKSBURG (CL-86), WITH INITIAL COMBAT SUPPORTING THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA, THEN OKINAWA. AFTER PROTECTING MINE CLEARING OPERATIONS IN THE EAST CHINA SEA, THE SHIP ENTERED TOKYO HARBOR ONLY DAYS AFTER THE JAPANESE SURRENDER AND LATER THAT MONTH CARRIED DEMOBILIZED TROOPS FROM OKINAWA TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE ON 4 DECEMBER 1945 AT USN SEPARATION CENTER, BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND.