World War II Honoree

Robert J. Formanack

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Miner County, South Dakota

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE JOINED THE U.S. NAVY JUNE 14, 1943. HE TRAINED AT FARRAGUT, IDAHO FOR BOOT CAMP FOLLOWED BY RADAR SCHOOL AT POINT LOMA, SAN DIEGO. HE THEN WAS ASSIGNED TO THE DESTROYER ESCORT USS MITCHELL DE-43 AS A RADAR OPERATOR AND LEFT SAN FRANCISCO FEBRUARY 9, 1944 FOR DUTY IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. THE USS MITCHELL DE-43 AND CREW FIRST WENT TO HAWAII FOR ANTI-SUBMARINE TRAINING. AFTERWARDS, USS MITCHELL DE-43 ESCORTED VARIOUS SHIPS AND CONVOYS ALL OVER THE PACIFIC AND PARTICIPATED IN TASK FORCES UNDER THE 5TH, 3RD AND 7TH FLEETS. THE USS MITCHELL DE-43 WAS ASSIGNED PRIMARILY TO TANKER GROUPS, BUT ALSO CONDUCTED SUBMARINE PATROLS AND SUPPORT OF INVASION FORCES. SOME OF THE AREAS THE USS MITCHELL DE-43 OPERATED IN WERE THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, MARIANA ISLANDS, THE ADMIRALTY GROUP, CAROLINE ISLANDS, GUAM AND THE PHILIPPINES. MANY STOPS WERE MADE AT ENIWETOK, TINIAN, SAIPAN, MAJURO, AND ULITHI. THE USS MITCHELL DE-43 ANCHORED IN TOKYO BAY SHORTLY AFTER THE JAPANESE SURRENDER, AND RETURNED TO THE STATES OCTOBER 8, 1945. HE WAS DISCHARGED APRIL 4, 1946 FROM GREAT LAKES NAVAL STATION WITH THE RANK OF RADARMAN 2ND CLASS.