World War II Honoree

John Anthony Mizii

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE HELPED BUILD THE USS NEW JERSEY AND LATER SERVED ABOARD IT DURING WORLD WAR II. HE HAD THE COMMANDER SIGN PAPERS RELEASING HIM FROM HIS SHIPYARD JOB SO HE COULD JOIN THE NAVY. INITIALLY ASSIGNED AS A GUNNERY INSTRUCTOR, MR. MIZII WAS GIVEN A NEW JOB WHEN THE NEW JERSEY WAS RAMMED BY A DESTROYER, AND REPAIR CREWS WERE HAVING TROUBLE LOCATING THE DAMAGE. MR. MIZII, WHO LATER WOULD SAY THAT HE 'KNEW EVERY FRAME ON THE SHIP,' SPOKE UP.