World War II Honoree

Paul J. Ferranti

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Honored By

Marilyn Ferranti & Paula Velez

Relationship

Daughters

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON OCTOBER 10, 1942. SENT TO FARRAGUT, IDAHO FOR BOOT CAMP AND THEN WENT ONTO GREAT LAKES, MICHIGAN FOR GUNNERY SCHOOL. FROM GUNNERY SCHOOL HE WENT TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FOR ADVANCED GUNNERY AND ELECTRIC HYDRAULICS SCHOOL. FROM SAN DIEGO HE TRAVELED FIRST TO TREASURE ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO AND THEN TO PORTLAND, OREGON WHERE HIS SHIP WAS COMMISSIONED MAY 15, 1944. THE AO-86 USS PONAGANSET AO-86 AN ESCAMBIA CLASS FLEET OILER, BUILT BY MARINESHIP IN SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA. FROM PORTLAND, THE USS PONAGANSET SAILED TO TREASURE ISLAND AND TO SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA. JULY 11, 1944 IT SAILED FOR THE SOUTH PACIFIC. HE WAS A GUNNER’S MATE 2ND CLASS. JUNE 1, 1945 HE WAS PROMOTED TO GUNNER'S MATE FIRST CLASS. COMBAT AREAS HE SAW WERE PALAU AND PELELIU ISLANDS, OKINAWA AND THE PHILIPPINES; LEYTE. HE RECEIVED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC RIBBON WITH 2 STARS, AMERICAN AREA RIBBON, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON, VICTORY RIBBON AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. ON DECEMBER 17, 1945, THE USS PONAGANSET LEFT HONG KONG FOR THE JOURNEY HOME. IT TOOK 18 DAYS AND 6,640 MILES; ARRIVED ON JANUARY 4, 1946. ALTHOUGH HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE NAVY TO RE-ENLIST WITH A PROMISE OF PROMOTION TO CHIEF, HE DECLINED AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON JANUARY 9, 1946. HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS TIME IN THE NAVY AND OF THE CHANCE TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY DURING WWII.