Earl P. Jam
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Earl P. Jam of Duluth, Minnesota, enlisted into the Naval Reserve on April 26, 1942 at Minneapolis, Minn.
He served as a Metalsmith 1st Class aboard the fueling vessel USS Tippecanoe in the Aleutians and the Pacific.
He later served aboard the destroyer USS Ross (DD 563) providing carrier escort and shore bombardment during engagements at Eniwetok, Palau, Ulithi, Saipan, Tinian, and Leyte. The USS Ross survived 2 mine explosions in the Leyte Gulf, a direct hit by a kamikaze plane, 287 air raids, a Japanese aerial strafing and a typhoon, all in little more than a month while the crew continued work on salvage operations.
In his own words, "We shot down three Japanese planes and assisted in shooting down three more while in a floating dry dock. Many crew members were wounded and 24 gave their lives in the battle in Leyte Gulf, October 19,1944."
He was wounded in action twice in October and in November of 1944. He was hospitalized on the battleship USS Pennsylvania, Hospital Ship Mercy and at a Naval Hospital at Hollandia, New Guinea.
His ship was towed back to United States from Leyte Gulf after temporary repairs;repared at Mare Island Navy Yard, Calif, and was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
Mr. Jam received the Purple Heart with gold star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze battle stars, American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
He was honorably discharged on November 23, 1945 at Shoemaker, Calif..
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 125.
