Awards
All personnel attached to the Pennsylvania and actually present and serving during the period of 4 May 1943 through 10 February 1945 in the Pacific, or any part thereof, earned a Navy Unit Commendation. The commendation awarded USS Pennsylvania reads as follows.
| The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending
The UNITED STATES SHIP PENNSYLVANIA for service as follows: "For outstanding heriosm in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific War Area from 4 May 1943 to 10 February 1945. Operating under ten separate commands, the U.S.S. PENNSYLVANIA was the only battleship to take part in every combat amphibious operation during this period from Attu in the northern area to Lingayen in the Philippines. Imperiled by perpetual fog, she served as Flagship of the Task Force Commander during the Aleutians Campaign and navigated in poorly charted waters to deliver her accurate broadsides on predetermined but invisible targets; intensive fire from her batteries blasted the way for our assault waves in the Gilberts, the Marshalls and the Marianas, silencing the enemy's heavy coastal guns, locating and neutralizing camouflaged emplacements and rendering sturdy support for our land forces. A gallant and dependable veteran, the PENNSYLVANIA completed nearly thirty years of unfailing service by her deadly close-in bombardment and gunfire support in the recapture of the Philippines, fulfilling her prolonged and vital mission without casualty to herself or her personnel by Japanese fire. Handled superbly in the face of many obstacles throughout this period, the PENNSYLVANIA achieved an illustrious combat record, reflecting the courage, skill and brilliant teamwork of the officers who plotted her course, the pilots who spotted her gunfire and the operational force which aided in maintaining her fighting efficiency." /s/ JAMES FORRESTAL |
Pennsylvania also was awarded 8 Service stars for her World War II service.
| Action No. | Operation: Action | Operation Period | Period of BB-38 Participation | Battle Stars Awarded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | Pearl Harbor—Midway | 7 December 1941 | 7 December 1941 | 1 | |
| (2) | Aleutians operation: Attu occupation | 11 May – 2 June 1943 | 11–20 May 1943 | 1 | |
| (3) | Gilbert Islands operation | 13 November – 8 December 1943 | 25–29 November 1943 | 1 | |
| (4) (5) |
Marshall Islands operation: Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls Marshall Islands operation: Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll |
29 January – 8 February 1944 17 February – 2 March 1944 |
31 January – 8 February 1944 17–23 February 1944 |
1 | One battle star awarded for participation in 1 or more of the Marshall Island Operation actions. Pennsylvania participated in 2 actions (Actions No.(4) and (5)) out of 5 total actions that took place during the Marshall Island Operation and thus was awarded 1 star. |
| (6) (7) |
Marianas operation: Capture and occupation of Saipan Marianas operation: Capture and occupation of Guam |
11 June – 10 August 1944 12 July – 15 August 1944 |
14–25 June 1944 12 July – 3 August 1944 |
1 | One battle star awarded for participation in 1 or more of the Marianas Operation actions. Pennsylvania participated in 2 actions (Actions No. (6) and (7)) out of 10 total actions that took place during the Marianas Operation and thus was awarded 1 star. |
| (8) | Western Caroline Islands operation: Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands | 6 September – 14 October 1944 | 6 September – 14 October 1944 | 1 | |
| (9) | Leyte operation: Leyte landings | 10 October – 29 November 1944 | 10 October – 29 November 1944 | 1 | |
| (10) | Luzon operation: Lingayen Gulf landing | 4–18 January 1945 | 4–18 January 1945 | 1 | |
| Total Battle Stars | 8 |
Read more about this topic: USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)