World War II Honoree

Jack Morgenstern

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Newark, New Jersey

Honored By

Jeannette Morgenstern

Relationship

Spouse

JOINED THE WAR EFFORT IN 1944 AT 17 YEARS OF AGE. PARTICIPATED IN THE EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN THEATERS. SERVED AS CREWMAN ON LCI 595, AN AMPHIBIOUS CRAFT. VOLUNTEERED TO WALK THROUGH UNDERWATER MINEFIELD SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE, RESULTING IN THE SAVING OF 3 SOLDIERS FROM DROWNING. DURING THE SAME ACTION WHEN BACK ABOARD THE LCI, ENEMY LAND ARTILLERY HIT THE SHIP AND CAUSED FIRES AND THICK, HEAVY SMOKE WHEN SHRAPNEL EXPLODED SMOKESCREEN CANISTERS ABOARD AND KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS A FELLOW SEAMAN WHO HAD BEEN STEERING THE SHIP. FROM A VERY DENSE SMOKE-FILLED COMPARTMENT, TOOK OVER THE HELM AND STEERED THE VESSEL THROUGH THE CROWDED HARBOR AWAY FROM THE BEACH TO SAFER WATERS.