In an intimate ceremony held 6 December at Ramos Hall,World War II veteran, Signalman Third Class Fernando (Fred) Luis Zayas received nine medals due more than 60 years. The initiative to recognize this brave sailor was from the Office of the Resident Commissioner, Honorable Pedro Pierluisi,who spoke highly of  the courage of the Puerto Rican men and women who serve in the armed forces. Zayas received the Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal,
Asian Pacific Campaign  Medal with Bronze Star, European-African Middle

Eastern Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Marksman Rifle Medal, The Honorable  Service Lapel Pin and The Discharge Button. Born in Puerto Rico June 12, 1924 Zayaz was brought to New  York by his mother when  he was 2 years old. He grew  up in Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City and enlisted in the Navy on December 8, 1941 at age 17, day after Pearl Harbor. He took his basic training at Great Lake Naval Station in Illinois. As a Visual Communication trainee and a Signalman at the University of Chicago, he became known as “Flags.” Later he was shipped to the U.S. Naval Armed Guard Center inBrooklyn, New York. He volunteered for the Navy Armed Guard unit to protect merchant ships, victory ships, and liberty ships serving from early 1942 to the end of 1945. He participated Brooklyn, New York. He volunteered for the Navy Armed Guard unit to protect merchant ships, victory ships, and liberty ships serving from early 1942 to the end of 1945. He participated in the invasion  at Omaha Beach December 7, 1944 and was involved in missions in the Atlantic, African, and Pacific theatres of war. Signalman   Zayas survived

the Battles of Bari, Naples, and Okinawa. Specific duty assignments included:. SS AMERICAN FISHER November 1942 and SS ORBIS until April of 1942. - SS JOSEPH MADILL June-December 1943. The ship made port at Oran and Algiers in North Africa taking troops to Augustus and other ports in Sicily. The ship was in- volved in the Invasion of Naples, Sept 1943 and the Battle of Bari, December 1943. EDWARD SPARROW April- December 1944. This ship participated in the Invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944. - SS SAGINAW VICTORY(Am- munition Ship) February 1945. This ship was involved in the Invasion of Okinawa. It suffered 32 air raids and shot down three Japanese planes.The following is an excerpt of Armed Guard actions during the invasion of Okinawa Guards arrived at Okinawa on April 11. One of these, the Minot Victory, five Armed Guards were wounded. Between April 11 and 20 the United Victory claimed the destruction ...This action took place on batteries on April 14 but escaped damage. The Saginaw Victory was credited with the destruction of one enemy plane on April 12 and another on April 15. Bombs landed about 300 yards away on the latter date,and the ship was strafed.
 
Continue on page 1   

Christmas parade at

F.t. Buchanan.

Cadets receive CPR Training

Cadets receives  information
of the law 154 of
animals mistreatment .

Marine speech with the
cadets.

Signalman Third Class (Retired) Fernando Luis Zayas.

Next Page