Below are the medals that my Dad was awarded in WW II. The Navy sent them to me when I requested replacements. One is a WW II Victory Medal, another is the American Campaign, and the third is an Asiatic Pacific Campaign. He got a little bronze star to go on the bar of the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal.
They also sent 2 lapel pins: discharge button and Honorable Service. My dad was a Lt. Commander in the US Navy serving in Saipan as the supply officer where he received a wound in his leg from shrapnel. Before going to Saipan, he was stationed at Newport News and Asbury Park. He served in the Reserves at least through 1958. His cremains were scattered at sea in 1989 off the coast of FL.
My brother, Ned, says that my Dad was responsible for supplying the most forward naval area for the allied command. Not only did he have to supply the ships but also the Japanese prisoners of war and local population. The island had almost no agriculture or structures left when the occupation began. Most of the island population committed suicide when the Japanese gave up the island (http://jasco295.tripod.com/SAIPAN.html). My brother, Bill, says Dad was the second in command on Saipan.
Dad brought home two souvenirs of his time in Saipan, a curved samurai sword and a ceremonial saber. I remember seeing then in our house on Quarrier Street. Ned said Dad gave them to Jim Brown to keep for him because the movers would not take the swords to NYC when we moved in 1967. I asked Jeff if he had seen them and he sent me this....
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| Japanese souvenirs from WWII |
They are at Jeff's house now. Amazing!!
