Mark Henry Roses
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Mark Henry Roses of Duluth, Minnesota, enlisted in the Navy on January 30, 1941. He was a Machinist's Mate 2nd Class in the forward engine room.
He recalls; "After basic I went aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV 6). We were in all 20 major engagements in the Pacific Theater....We were hit and damaged 16 times. Returned to States, Bremerton Navy Yard, Washington, for repairs in 1943, then back to the Pacific again."
The USS Enterprise was the most decorated ship in the Navy during World War II. Its men were responsible for sinking 52 enemy vessels, conducting 1,022 night aerial combat sorties, and supported Gen. Jimmy Doolittle's 1942 raid on Tokyo. They also participated in air offensives against Japanese home islands and enemy occupied territories in the Pacific Theater.
Mr. Roses received the: Presidential Unit Citation Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal with 4 silver stars (representing 20 bronze battle stars).
He was discharged on September 7, 1945.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 271.
