World War II Honoree

James George

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Mrs. James George

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE IN JUNE, 1943 AND COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AT CAMP SAMPSON, NEW YORK. REPORTED TO NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING BASE, SOLOMONS, MARYLAND, PENDING PERMANENT ASSIGNMENT TO LST (LANDING SHIP, TANK) 39. BOARDED SHIP AT CORAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA, AFTER SHE WAS COMMISSIONED ON 8 SEPTEMBER, 1943 AND DEPARTED FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. STAGING FROM GUADALCANAL, TRANSPORTED TROOPS, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES TO AND FROM MULTIPLE COMBAT LOCATIONS INCLUDING BOUGAINVILLE AND TULAGI. PROCEEDED TO HAWAII IN MAY, 1944 WHERE LST 39 WAS ATTACHED TO NORTHERN ATTACK FORCE, TASK FORCE 52, PREPARING FOR THE INVASION OF SAIPAN. WHILE LOADING WITH COMBAT STORES AND AMMUNITION ON MAY 21, EIGHT NESTED LSTS INCLUDING LST 39, BLEW UP AND SANK IN A CHAIN REACTION TO A SINGLE EXPLOSION OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN. SUCCESSFULLY ABANDONED SHIP BEFORE SINKING, AND REASSIGNED TO LST 684. RETURNED TO COMBAT AT THE INVASION OF GUAM WHERE, UNDER FIRE, THE SHIP WAS GROUNDED UNTIL TOWED BACK TO SEA. UPON RETURN TO HAWAII, GRANTED A 30 DAY FURLOUGH, AND THEN SERVED AS A GUNNERY INSTRUCTOR AT THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT TRAINING CENTER, NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING BASE, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. REASSIGNED TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, AS WAR CAME TO AN END. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A GUNNER’S MATE THIRD CLASS ON DECEMBER 21, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND. EARNED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON (RETROACTIVE AWARD), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH THREE BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.