Laura joined the Navy at the age of 18 in January 1945.
He was assigned to the USS Ocanto, a Haskell-class attack transport operation in the south Pacific.
Laura was a Fireman 1st class and was assigned to the engine room of the ship.
The Ocanto was in several battles including the battle of Okinawa. The ship came under attack from Japanese kamikazes several times. The ship gunners were credited with one confirmed downed enemy aircraft, and assisted in another.
Laura’s most memorable experience was watching as our planes struck the island of Okinawa while his ship was under a smoke screen from other ships for protection from Japanese aircraft.
The ship was on standby off Japan when the two atom bombs were dropped on Japan. Later the ship picked up thousands of sick and starving American POW’s from the notorious Japanese POW camps and transported them back to the states.
Laura received the American Campaign and Defense medals, Asiatic campaign medal, as well several others.
He was discharged from the military on April 17, 1946.
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