Robert L. Giuliani
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Robert L. Giuliani entered the Naval Reserve on January 3, 1944.
He was an Aviation Radioman 3rd Class, radioman and gunner in Navy torpedo bombers in the Pacific Theater. He also served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL 26) in Torpedo Squadrons 34 and 100, in Air Transport Squadron 3, in VF 53 and several continental United States shore stations.
Mr. Giuliani relates:
"Of all the missions flown, the following four stand out as the most memorable. On July 10, 1945, our squadron was the first Navy plane to attack mainland Japan since the Doolittle raid of 1942. The sight I will never forget was seeing Mount Fujiyama above the clouds as we made our approach to Tokyo. On July 24,1945, our squadron was assigned to hit a heavy cruiser and left it sinking in Kuri Harbor in the Inland Sea. The Japs were caught with four carriers, six cruisers and two battleships in the harbor. On July 28,1945, our squadron attacked and sunk Japan's newest and largest cruiser. On August 15, 1945, as we crossed the Japanese coast heading for a Tokyo electronics plant, we received an order to jettison our bombs and return to the ship. The Japanese had surrendered."
Mr. Giuliani was awarded the Air Medal with three stars for subsequent awards, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star, American Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
He was honorably discharged May 18, 1946 at Great Lakes, Ill.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 90.
