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My mother was celebrating my father's dad's birthday, (December 7th) when the news of Pearl Harbor hit. Robert was stationed at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS YG-21. The family didn't receive word of my uncle's safety for two more weeks, as the situation was so chaotic in Hawaii. He did survive & went on to serve with the Pacific Fleet for the duration of WWII; then, in occupied Japan at the War's end. The following is the official record of Uncle Bob's commendation:
7 Dec 1941: Commended by Commanding Officer for his courage, skill, and devotion to duty, while in action against strong enemy strafing bombing, and torpedo attacks at Pearl Harbor, TH [Territory of Hawaii]
/s/E.B. Peterson, Commander, USN.
30 Jul 1942: Commended by Commandant, Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, T.H. for courageous and outstanding performance of duty in the line of his profession, with utter disregard of personal safety during and after the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese Forces on December 7, 1941. As a member of the crew of the U.S.S. YG-21 he fought fires aboard three Naval Vessels for a period of about forty-eight hours, despite the danger of exploding ready ammunition aboard the ships and enemy strafing and bombing.
/s/William R. Furlong."
Battles he participated in included:
- Pearl Harbor
- Ulithi Island
- Okinawa
- Guam
- Leyte
- Subic Bay
- Brunti Bay, Borneo
- Mira
- Tawitawi (Philippines)
- Balik, Papan, Borneo
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