Arthur E. Bakk

Arthur E. Bakk

Mr. Bakk enlisted in the Naval Reserve January 23, 1942.

He served as a Motor Machinist Mate Third Class aboard the battleship USS South Dakota (BB 57) in Iceland, Scotland, and the Pacific Theater participating in actions in the Marianas Islands, Western Caroline Islands, Leyte and Luzon Islands in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Third Fleet operations against Japan. He crossed the equator 39 times and International Dateline nine times.

Mr. Bakk was awarded the following: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with seven battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, Navy of Occupation Medal with Asia Clasp, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, and Philippines Liberation Medal.

Honorably discharged July 3, 1945, at USN Hospital Norfolk, Virginia.

Source: Hometown Heroes:  The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 29.

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