The USS Almaack AK-10
Precedence of
awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
(1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with
Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal
The beginning of WWII, the bombing of Pearl Harbour: Click the image for more information.
Sterling
Bake
r was a young man at the start of WWII. There was no hesitation in his
descision to enlist and serve his country. Beginning in 1943, the US Navy's
underwater warriors undertook never-before attempted missions ranging from the
demolition of shoreline obstacles to visual recon of enemy beachheads and
clearing the way for landing craft. These missions ranged across the world's
battlefronts as amphibious assaults were launched in North Africa, Europe and
the broad reaches of the Pacific. From frigid ocean depths to the heat of
battle, by their daring exploits a new breed of warrior was born - the Navy
frogman. Sterling was a part of this prgram. Pictured here is Sterlings'
Service Record Book.
Sterling served aboard the USS Almaack AK 10 during WWII. Both Sterling and the Almaack were in for some rough times.
During World War II USS Almaack served in both the European Theater where she participated in one campaign and subsequently served in five Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
Europe: Africa-Middle East Campaign
North African Occupation
Algeria-Morocco landings, 8 to 12 November 1942
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign:
Marshall Islands campaign
Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 6 February 1943
. Marianas campaign
Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 to 24 June 1944
Capture and occupation of Guam, 22 to 29 July 1944
. Leyte operation
Leyte landings, 20 to 22 October and 14 to 26 November 1944
. Luzon operation
Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 12 January 1945
. Iwo Jima operation
Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 22 February to 3 March 1945
At 04.14 hours on 15 Nov, 1942, the Geman U-Boat U-155 fired a spread of four torpedoes at the convoy MKF-1Y about 120 miles northwest of Gibraltar and heard three detonations, but was not able to made visual observations. The Ettrick and the HMS Avenger (D 14) were sunk and the USS Almaack (AK 10) was damaged.
During the battle for Charon-Kanoa on the southern coast of Saipan, a group of “Tank lighters” maneuver close to the beach to discharge their tanks. One can be seen just after it has left the AKA-10. The USS Almaack was the first ship to combat load medium tanks which she did for this invasion. At the height of the battle, the stack of a sugar refinery still stands although the building was blasted to ruins by Naval bombardment. Click here to view this picture.
