World War II Honoree

Stephen Gitto

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Mr. Vincent Russo

Relationship

Great Nephew

UPON ENTRY INTO THE NAVY COMPLETING BOOT CAMP AT CAMP SAMPSON, LAKE SENECA NEAR GENEVA, NEW YORK 1942. WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO COMMUNICATIONS CLASSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOR SIGNALMEN TRAINING. ONCE TRAINING WAS COMPLETED HE WAS MOVED TO THE MARINE BASE AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA ASSIGNED TO A UNIT. AFTER SIMULATED WAR TRAINING THE UNITS WERE MOVED TO WAIPIO POINT IN PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII. FROM THIS POINT THE UNITS WERE ASSIGNED TO SHIP CONVOYS OF NUMEROUS MERCHANT SHIPS SUPPORTING THE ISLAND HOPPING CAMPAIGN IN THE PACIFIC. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT CONVOYS DURING THIS TIME PARTICIPATING IN THE INVASIONS WHICH INCLUDED: KISKA IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, TARAWA IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS, ENIWETOK AND KWAJALEIN OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA.