World War II Honoree

William John Birks

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Janice Birks

Relationship

Wife

SERVED AS A SIGNALMAN 2ND CLASS. ASSIGNED TO V-6 U.S. NAVAL RESERVES. ASSIGNED TO NAVAL TRAINING STATION (NAS) IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND; RECEIVING STATION, NAVY YARD, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA AND RECEIVING STATION, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. HE THEN SERVED ABOARD THE USS STOCKTON DD-646 AND SAW ACTION IN THE BISMARK SEA, INVASION OF OKINAWA, KERAMA RETTO AND LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE WAS IN TOKYO BAY FOR THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE EMPIRE. HE SERVED IN THE NAVY FOR OVER THREE YEARS.