CRANSTON, RI – U.S. Senator Jack Reed today hosted a special medal ceremony for World War II veteran, John DeLeo, 98, of Johnston.  During the presentation, Mr. DeLeo received several overdue military honors he earned during his service as a Seaman First Class in the U.S. Navy.

In 1944, at the age of 17, Mr. DeLeo received permission from his parents to join the U.S. Navy. By the time he turned 18, DeLeo was serving with the inaugural crew of the historic USS Missouri en route to the Pacific Theatre where the ship helped prepare for and aid in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and eventually served as the host for the Japanese surrender.

“There are few Americans still with us today who were there aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay as General MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender on behalf of the Allied Forces and prayed that “peace now be restored to the world.” Mr. DeLeo is a hometown hero.  His service is an inspiration.  He and his fellow crewmembers not only witnessed history, they shaped it by helping carry the Allied Forces to victory,” said Senator Reed, a former U.S. Army officer and Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.  “We salute Mr. DeLeo for his many achievements, share our gratitude for his service and sacrifice, and finally deliver medals that he earned in defense of our nation, and truly the world, eight decades ago.  Mr. DeLeo is a shining example of the commitment to duty, honor, and country that is shared by so many members of the Greatest Generation. And I am proud to present him with these medals today as a small symbol of our eternal gratitude for his tremendous service.”

DeLeo Medal Ceremony_11

After the special ceremony, Mr. DeLeo shared words of wisdom for the friends, loved ones, and family members who gathered with him today: “Be true to yourself,” he said.

Aboard the USS Missouri, Mr. DeLeo witnessed history. On September 2, 1945, DeLeo joined shipmates, officials from around the world, and General Douglas MacArthur as Gen. MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender and officially marked the end of the World War II.

Alongside the Japanese Foreign Minister, who signed the official document of Japan's surrender, Gen. Douglas MacArthur struck a tone of reconciliation: “It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past — a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice.”

It is estimated that between 55 and 60 million people died during the six years of armed confrontation, mainly in Europe and Asia.

During today’s ceremony, Mr. DeLeo received four military honors for exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity that he earned while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, including:

Mr. DeLeo is a son of an Italian immigrant father and a first-generation Italian-American mother from the North End of Boston. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence. After the war, DeLeo returned home to Rhode Island and settled in Johnston to marry his wife and start a family. He joined Laborers Local 271 and helped to build many of the iconic structures that today define the Rhode Island skyline. Later, he went on to be an instructor with the New England Laborers’ Training Academy, eventually retiring after five decades with the union.

Mr. DeLeo enjoys spending time with his five children, eleven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. He was recently interviewed by the curator of the USS Missouri Memorial and his experiences and stories were captured on film to be a part of a permanent exhibit aboard the ship. Mr. DeLeo plans to participate in the 80th anniversary commemoration of the surrender ceremony on September 2, 2025.