World War II Honoree

Michael A. Cocca

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Green Island, New York

Honored By

Michael A. Cocca

Relationship

Family

ENLISTED AT AGE 18, IN MAY 1943. BASIC TRAINING AT SAMPSON NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY, GENEVA, NEW YORK. SENT TO NAVAL AIR TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE FOR TRAINING AS AN AIRCRAFT RADIOMAN. WENT ON TO NAVAL AIR GUNNERY SCHOOL, HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA. FINALLY, WENT TO NAVAL AIR OPERATIONS, FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. SENT TO PEARL HARBOR WHERE HE AND CREW WERE ASSIGNED TO A CARRIER AIRCRAFT SQUADRON VC21 ABOARD THE CARRIER, USS MARCUS ISLAND (CVE-77), PART OF THE 7TH FLEET IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATRE. SERVED AS A RADIOMAN/ GUNNER IN A TBF AVENGER TORPEDO BOMBER. TOOK PART IN THE PALAU ISLAND INVASION AND THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. TOOK PART IN THE 2ND BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA; OCTOBER 24-25, 1944. HE AND THE CREW WERE CREDITED WITH A DIRECT HIT ON AN ATAGO CLASS HEAVY CRUISER WHICH RESULTED IN ITS BEING SUNK. RECEIVED NAVY AIRCREW BADGE, AIR MEDAL, NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER STAR FOR THE INVASION OF PELELIU AND ANGUAR, LEYTE GULF, LUZON AND 2ND BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA; WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, NEW YORK STATE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS, AND NEW YORK STATE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE STAR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT LIDO BEACH, NEW YORK; APRIL 1946. RECEIVED HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.