World War II Honoree

Alexander F. Wadas

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New York Mills, New York

Honored By

Bernice L. Wadas

Relationship

Wife

SERVED WITH THE 2ND MARINE DIVISION, 1ST BATTALION, 8TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, AS A NAVY PHARMACIST'S MATE WITH THE 42MM MORTAR PLATOON ON THE ISLANDS OF SAIPAN, TINIAN, AGUNI SHIMA, IE SHIMA AND OKINAWA. HE WAS IN THE LAST LAND BATTLE OF WWII ON OKINAWA AND WITNESSED THE DEATH OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUCKNER, COMMANDER OF THE 10TH ARMY, WHILE HE WAS STANDING ON MENDOZA RIDGE WITH LIEUTENANT COLONEL WALLACE, COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 8TH REGIMENT COMBAT TEAM, OVERLOOKING THE VALLEY TO NAHA. AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER, HE WAS SENT TO NAGASAKI, JAPAN FOR OCCUPATION DUTY FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER OF 1945 AT ISAHAYA AIR FIELD 40 MILES EAST OF NAGASAKI, WHERE HIS BATTALION HAD ORDERS TO DESTROY ALL JAPANESE WAR EQUIPMENT. HE WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS SHIPS AND NAVAL HOSPITALS FOR DUTY AND SERVED ON THE USS NEW JERSEY BB-62 DURING THE KOREAN WAR AND HAD DUTY AT GOLCUK, TURKEY AT THE TURKISH SUBMARINE BASE. HE RETIRED IN 1964 FROM THE U.S. NAVAL HOSPITAL IN BETHESDA, MARYLAND AFTER 22 YEARS OF NAVAL SERVICE.