Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Branch: U.S. Navy
Unit: USS Eversole (DE-404)
Military Honors: Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Purple Heart
Date of Sacrifice: October 29, 1944 - KIA in the Leyte Gulf off Samar Island, Philippine Sea 
Age: unknown
Conflict: World War II, 1939-1945

Vito Thomas Accardi, from Brooklyn, New York, served as a Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class aboard the USS Eversole (DE-404), in the Pacific theater of World War II.

He took part in the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Sea—the largest Navy battle of the war, involving more than 200,000 naval personnel. This battle was also the first time American forces would witness organized Japanese aircraft “kamikaze” attacks.

Author Wilfred P. Deac, in the December 1966 issue of American Heritage, writes:

“The over-all Battle for Leyte Gulf, spread across a total area twice the size of Texas, was the greatest sea fight in history. Every element of naval warfare, from submarine to aircraft, was involved. And when it was over, the Imperial Japanese Navy had ceased to exist as a fighting unit. The United States and her allies had undisputed control of the Pacific Ocean.”

During the battle, on October 29, 1944, two torpedoes fired from the Japanese submarine I-45—commanded by Kawashima Mamoru—punched into the side of the USS Eversole. Eversole’s Lieutenant Commander George E. Marix gave the order to abandon ship.

As the Eversole quickly sank and the surviving crew dropped into the Philippine Sea, Accardi hurried to rescue crew members trapped in a damaged compartment.

“We had some casualties from the torpedo hits and the heroic efforts the able men made to get the wounded to safety were magnificent,” said LCDR Marix. “I saw Accardi, who was paying no attention to his own safety, get at least three men who were wounded out of a compartment.”

Petty Officer Accardi went down with the ship. For his selfless bravery, Accardi was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. His citation reads:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Vito Thomas Accardi (NSN: 8147551), United States Navy, for outstanding heroism and devotion to duty in assisting wounded men from a damaged compartment of the U.S.S. EVERSOLE (DE-404) after it had been hit by two submarine torpedoes. When his ship the U.S.S. EVERSOLE was seriously damaged and sinking from enemy submarine torpedoes on 29 October 1944. during the Second Naval Battle of the Philippine Sea, Petty Officer Accardi immediately realized that the ship was sinking and the wounded men must be removed from the damaged compartment. Although suffering from shock and despite the immediate sinking of the ship, Petty Officer Accardi carried wounded men out of the compartment until he himself was trapped and went down with the ship. Due to Petty Officer Accardi’s self sacrifice many men were saved who otherwise would have perished. The courage, judgment, and devotion to duty displayed by Petty Officer Accardi reflect great credit on the United States Naval Service.

Sources
Artist’s rendering: Craig Du Mez
Details submitted by Ms. Lorraine Corso, PO Accardi’s great-niece
The United States Navy Memorial: Vito Thomas Accardi
Military Times Hall of Valor Project: Vito Thomas Accardi
TogetherWeServed.com: Vito Thomas Accardi, PhM2c – Military Timeline
American Heritage: The Battle Off Samar
Naval History and Heritage Command: Eversole I (DE-404)
Burial site: Find a Grave