United States. A Pacific Theater Purple Heart to Private First Class John Frank Mostowski, Battle of Saipan

 

Footnote: John Frank Mostowski was born on November 16, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. His education consisted of the three years of high school when he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps on July 8, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, at that age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Veronica Mostowski of Chicago. He arrived in San Diego, California on July 11th, where he was posted to the 4th Recruit Battalion. Two months later, he was transferred to Camp Elliott in San Diego County, California, where he was posted to the 2nd Attack Battalion, on September 12, 1942. After one year of training at Camp Elliott, he embarked for service in the Pacific theater, embarking San Diego aboard the troop transport USS Mount Vernon (AP-22) on September 21, 1943, arriving at Noumea, New Caledonia on October 4th. Two days later, he embarked from Noumea aboard the Tryon-class Evacuation Transport USS Tryon (APH-1) on October 6th, arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on October 10th. His stay in Wellington would be less than a month, before embarking aboard the Ormsby-class attack transport USS Ormsby (APA-49) and arriving at Betio, Tarawa Atoll, British Gilbert Islands on November 20th. He is credited with having participated in the Battle of Tarawa on the Tarawa Atoll in the British Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the American invasion of the Gilbert Islands, from November 20 to 23, 1943. He embarked Betio aboard the Harris-class attack transport USS Harris on December 1st, arriving at Hilo, Hawaii on December 12th. While near Camp Tarawa, Hawaii on March 6, 1944, about 16:30, Mostowski sustained multiple contusions, when the truck he was riding in hit the railing of a bridge and overturned. He was subsequently admitted to the 156th Stationary Hospital, 2nd Medical Battalion for treatment and recovered. He embarked Hapuno Bay, Hawaii aboard the landing ship USS LST-133 on May 14, 1944, arriving shortly thereafter on the island of Saipan in the Marianas Islands. Private First Class Mostowski participated in the Battle of Saipan, from June 15 to July 24, 1944, along with its subsequent capture and occupation. While in combat with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Forces, he was Wounded in Action on June 30th, suffering fragment shell wounds in his right wrist, along with a concussion. He was awarded the Purple Heart by the Commanding General, 6th Marines and recovered from his wounds and concussion.

 

He embarked Saipan aboard the LST-1-class tank landing ship USS LST-461 on July 24, 1944, arriving shortly thereafter at Tinian, Marianas Islands. Private First Class Mostowski participated in the Battle of Tinian on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands, from July 24 to August 1, 1944. He embarked Saipan aboard the Tolland-class attack cargo ship USS Ottawa (AKA-101) on September 18, 1945, arriving in Nagasaki, Kyushu Island, Japan on September 23rd, disembarking on the 26th. Six and a half weeks previous, on August 9th, a Fat Man plutonium implosion-type bomb was dropped by an American B-29 on Nagasaki, the flight originating in Tinian, the bomb immediately devastating its target. Private First Class Mostowski participated in the occupation of Nagasaki, from September 23 to November 30, 1945 and the subsequent occupation of Sasmbo, near Nagasaki, from December 1 to December 15, 1945. He embarked Sasmbo aboard the Bayfield-class attack transport USS Riverside (APA-102) on December 15, 1942, arriving in San Diego on January 1, 1946. Private First Class John Frank Mostowski was Honorably Discharged from service at Great Lakes, Illinois on January 14, 1946, at the age of 23, credited with having served overseas in action against the enemy, from September 21, 1942 to January 1, 1946. His awards included: the Purple Heart, a Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars (Marianas Operation, Gilbert Islands Operation, Capture and Occupation of Tinian), the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia clasp, the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon and the Unit Citation of the Second Marine Division. As of November 20, 1962, he was a resident of Chicago and was Single.