Salvatore P. Monteleone
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Salvatore P. Monteleone enlisted in the Navy on July 15,1941.
He was a Seaman 2nd Class and ship's cook on the USS Yorktown, CV-5, which was sunk at the Battle of Midway in 1942. Of that battle, he says:
"During a lull after a bombing attack, one man at a time went to the mess hall to get some chow -- a ham sandwich, piece of pineapple upside-down cake and coffee -- which was to be our last meal aboard CV-5. each man got to eat and returned to his battle station it wasn't long before the next bombing attack came."
"This was a bad one. We got hit in a couple of places, one just above our shell room. 'Fire out of control, evacuate shell rooms' came the radio message. Everyone left as quick as possible. We made our way topside as ordered. We were told to go aft to the number 4 one-point-ones aft of the stack. We were put to work cleaning up the mess made by a close bomb hit and taking over positions on the gun. I was a shell passer outside of the gun shield."
"Surface lookouts spotted low-flying torpedo planes coming in for the kill. Our gun swung around to my side and commenced firing. The guns were lowering as the planes came closer and I was standing in front of them. The next thing I knew I was knocked to the deck as the torpedoes hit amidship. If I hadn't been knocked to the deck, the shells from the gun would have chopped my head off. One of the guys rolled me over and found me still alive.
"After a short while word was passed to abandon ship because it was at a 26 degree list, which would have dragged us all down if it had gotten any worse. Gallantry and a thirst for truth require that the virtue of the USS Yorktown be defended. She compiled a record of unparalleled glory yet, for all she accomplished, history has dealt with her shabbily."
He was discharged on July 7, 1947.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 211.
