RISLEY, JOSEPH

Joe Risley

Navy

Coram

Joseph F.Risley (on the left in photo) was born May 18, 1921 and enlisted Nov, 7, 1940 in the Navy. He was an Aviation Ordinance Man 2nd Class on the light cruiser USS CHESTER from Dec. 28, 1940 to Aug. 20, 1944 with its home port at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The cruiser was engaged in patrol and escort duty throughout the Pacific and was at sea returning from Wake Island when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Dec. 1941. In 1942 the CHESTER participated in the battle of the Coral Sea and the Solomon

Islands, the invasion of the Marshall Island in 1943, and action in the Philippine Islands in 1944. When the CHESTER returned to California in January 1945 Joe transferred for a month to the USS ROCHAMBEAU and then to Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 202 until Dec. 28, 1946. He was discharged Dec. 29, 1946 at San Pedro, CA. He was awarded the Asiatic- Pacific Medal with 7 Service Stars, American Medal with 1 Service Star, the Philippine Liberation Medal, American Defense Service Medal and WWII Victory Medal.