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LT Michael Richard “Pesso” Pessolano
Monument

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LT Michael Richard “Pesso” Pessolano Veteran

Birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
30 Jul 1945 (aged 25)
At Sea
Monument
Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines Add to Map
Plot
Tablets of the Missing - United States Navy--Missing In Action
Memorial ID
View Source
Service # 0-123426
Rank Lieutenant U.S. Navy
Entered Service From Pennsylvania
Status Missing In Action
★ Purple Heart
★ Silver Star
PESSOLANO, Michael R, LT, USN, Indianapolis CA-35, July 30, 1945

Michael Richard Pessolano
HOME OF RECORD:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Michael Pessolano graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1942.

AWARDS BY DATE OF ACTION:1 of 1

Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U.S.S. Patrol Boat Torpedo 155 (PT-155)
GENERAL ORDERS:
Commander South Pacific: Serial 00163 (January 14, 1944)

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Michael Richard Pessolano (NSN: 0-123426), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while in Command of a section of two Motor Torpedo Boats, which on the night of 13 - 14 November 1943, while patrolling close off shore of the Shortland Islands Group, was fired on by an enemy 3-inch shore battery. Lieutenant Pessolano immediately ordered his section to take evasive action, which his boat, the U.S.S. Patrol Boat Torpedo ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE (PT-155), did. However, on perceiving that the U.S.S. PT-154 had been hit and was near dead in the water, he returned to her assistance, laying smoke to screen her from the enemy searchlights and further shell fire. He then led the U.S.S. PT-154 to a point of safety where the enemy's guns and searchlights could no longer bear, transferred the dead and wounded to his own boat and since the U.S.S. PT-154's Commanding Officer had been severely wounded and her Executive Officer killed, Lieutenant Pessolano took command of the damaged boat and brought her safely back to port. Lieutenant Pessolano's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Service # 0-123426
Rank Lieutenant U.S. Navy
Entered Service From Pennsylvania
Status Missing In Action
★ Purple Heart
★ Silver Star
PESSOLANO, Michael R, LT, USN, Indianapolis CA-35, July 30, 1945

Michael Richard Pessolano
HOME OF RECORD:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Michael Pessolano graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1942.

AWARDS BY DATE OF ACTION:1 of 1

Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U.S.S. Patrol Boat Torpedo 155 (PT-155)
GENERAL ORDERS:
Commander South Pacific: Serial 00163 (January 14, 1944)

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Michael Richard Pessolano (NSN: 0-123426), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while in Command of a section of two Motor Torpedo Boats, which on the night of 13 - 14 November 1943, while patrolling close off shore of the Shortland Islands Group, was fired on by an enemy 3-inch shore battery. Lieutenant Pessolano immediately ordered his section to take evasive action, which his boat, the U.S.S. Patrol Boat Torpedo ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE (PT-155), did. However, on perceiving that the U.S.S. PT-154 had been hit and was near dead in the water, he returned to her assistance, laying smoke to screen her from the enemy searchlights and further shell fire. He then led the U.S.S. PT-154 to a point of safety where the enemy's guns and searchlights could no longer bear, transferred the dead and wounded to his own boat and since the U.S.S. PT-154's Commanding Officer had been severely wounded and her Executive Officer killed, Lieutenant Pessolano took command of the damaged boat and brought her safely back to port. Lieutenant Pessolano's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Gravesite Details

Entered the service from Pennsylvania.



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  • Maintained by: Noelani
  • Originally Created by: War Graves
  • Added: Aug 8, 2010
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56768557/michael_richard-pessolano: accessed ), memorial page for LT Michael Richard “Pesso” Pessolano (9 Dec 1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56768557, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Noelani (contributor 47540159).