World War II Honoree

Alberto N. Navarette

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Alaminos, Pangasinan, Philippine Islands

Honored By

Commodore Ramon A. Alcaraz (Ret)

AS COMMANDER OF 1ST Q-BOAT SQUADRON OF 3 BRITISH-MADE TORPEDO BOATS, PHILIPPINE ARMY UNDER U.S. ARMY FORCES IN THE FAR EAST OF GENERAL MACARTHUR, HE SAW GALLANT ACTION IN THE DEFENSE OF BATAAN PATROLLING ITS EASTERN COASTLINE DURING EARLY WWII. IN AN AIR-SEA BATTLE JANUARY 17,1942 WHEREIN Q-111 AND Q-112 FOUGHT 9 JAPANESE ZEROS, HIS Q-BOATS SHOT DOWN 3 ENEMY PLANES THAT EARNED HIM A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS FROM U.S. ARMY FORCES OF THE FAR EAST HEADQUARTERS. WHEN BATAAN SURRENDERED ON APRIL 9, 1942, Q-111 ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE SOUTH BUT WAS HIT BY JAPANESE DESTROYER GUNFIRE IN THE CHINA SEA. HE AND HIS CREW MANAGED TO SWIM ASHORE, ESCAPED TO BATANGAS, HID THERE FOR SOME TIME AND AVOIDED BEING PRISONERS OF WAR. LATER HE JOINED THE UNDERGROUND AND FOUGHT THE ENEMY UP TO THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES IN EARLY 1945.