World War II Honoree

Ralph J. Annibale

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Staten Island, New York

Honored By

Ralph J. Annibale

Relationship

Self

ENLISTED IN JULY 1943 ON STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK AND WAS SWORN IN ON AUGUST 11, 1943 IN NEW YORK CITY. WENT TO BOOT CAMP AT NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND FROM AUGUST 12 TO OCTOBER 4, 1943. ATTENDED GUNNERY SCHOOL AT CAMP SHELTON, VIRGINIA FROM OCTOBER 11 TO NOVEMBER 5, 1943. FROM NOVEMBER 9, 1943 UNTIL NOVEMBER 13, 1944, WAS A NAVY GUNNER ON THE JOHN LOUIS LUCKENBACH, A MERCHANT SHIP IN THE CAPACITY OF THE ARMED GUARD. TRAVELED THE NORTH ATLANTIC, MEDITERRANEAN SEA, PERSIAN GULF AND THE RED SEA. THE SECOND SHIP ASSIGNED TO WAS THE USS NASSAU A CARRIER VESSEL ESCORT. WAS ASSIGNED TO THE FLIGHT DECK. AT THE TIME IT WAS A SUPPLY SHIP BRINGING ENGINE PARTS TO THE DIFFERENT ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC. ON ONE OCCASION HE QUALIFIED PILOTS OFF THE ISLAND OF GUAM AND CROSSED THE EQUATOR. ALSO SERVED AS A HOSPITAL AND TROOP SHIP. DISCHARGED ON MARCH 18, 1946 IN SHOEMAKER, CALIFORNIA. SERVED A TOTAL OF 31 MONTHS.