The Navy Service of Anthony G. Adesso represents a long and distinguished military career.
It all started one day on October 30th, 1942. Tony and about 20 friends were gathered at his local Grammer School Playground in Brooklyn. After some discussion the entire group decided that the next day they would all meet up at the Army Recruitment Center and enlist. Tony showed up and not one of his friends did, he then decided that he did not really want to join the Army without his buddies so he joined the Navy.
Tony enlisted October 31st, 1942. He became a Gunner's Mate, Second Class on a Destroyer Escort the USS Riddle, DE185.
As a result of his service Tony was awarded 8 Medals including 3 Bronze and 1 Silver Star some of these Medals were the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. Other awards included a Combat Action Ribbon, his Honorable Service Lapel Pin (Ruptured Duck) and the Phillippine Liberation Medal. Tony also received 12 Battle Stars.
The Radar Man at one of Tonys' Reunions with the crew called Tony: "The bravest man I ever met!" since he belived Tony saved the entire crew while shooting down the Kamikazes during several extremely violent battles. He counted 6 planes that he shot down!
 
USS Riddle (DE-185) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. She returned home at war's end with a record-setting twelve battle stars, more battle stars than any other destroyer escort in World War II.
 
 
World War II Pacific Theatre operations
Following shakedown off Bermuda, Riddle sailed for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal, arriving on 1 February 1944. On 10 February she got underway as an escort vessel with Task Unit 16.11.6, bound for the Marshall Islands. Upon arrival she conducted anti-submarine patrols in the Roi Namur-Kwajalein-Majuro Atoll area until steaming for Pearl Harbor on 15 March.
Attack on Japanese submarine I-10
After serving as an escort to Majuro Atoll and Manus Island and back, Riddle was active in the Marshall and Marianas Islands in June 1944. On 4 July, while screening fueling operations with task group TG 50.17, with David W. Taylor (DD-551), she successfully attacked the submerged Japanese submarine I-10.
Riddle continued screening operations in the Marshall-Marianas area until 1 September when she anchored at Manus Island. On 4 October she got underway as part of an escort group to screen the sortie of task unit TU 38.8.16, a carrier and fueling group, from Seeadler Harbor for the Philippine Islands invasion. Riddle returned to Manus after the task unit was on its way, and operated in the Admiralty and western Caroline area until early January 1945. On 14 January 1945 she arrived at Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, after which she returned to the Marianas and western Carolines on routine screening and patrol duties.
Tony recalls after the sinking of the Japenese Submarine I10 which had High Ranking Officers aboard that
Tokyo Rose threatened the USS Riddle and all the men aboard on her nightly radio broadcast. So when they
were attacked by the Kamikazes it was no surprise.
 
One man perished since he jumped over board when the Kamikaze was heading straight at him. He was the Officers cook and a friend of Tonys and his name was Bailey. The rest of the crew returned to the islands where the ship was repaired and later went to Hawii.
Later in California where Tony was released early from the Navy and went home to his family in Brooklyn. His mother
Angela was very worried about him and was thrilled to have him home safe.
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Supporting Iwo Jima operations
Riddle operated in the Iwo Jima area in February 1945, acting as anti-aircraft and anti-submarine patrol as well as escorting various fleet units in their operations in that bloody battle area. On the 5th of March, she anchored at Saipan and the following day sailed for Leyte Gulf in company with Hyman (DD-732). After remaining in San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, until 18 March, Riddle got underway as part of the escort group for task unit TU 51.7.1, en route to Kerama Retto, Okinawa.
 
Attacked by Kamikaze planes
Upon arrival at Kerama Retto on 26 March 1945, Riddle operated with various screening units, patrol sections, and retirement groups in those waters. 12 April found the vessel off Okinawa on a patrolling station, with task force TF 51, under enemy attack. Two Japanese kamikazes attacked Riddle. The first was shot down, just clearing the ship, and the second crashed into the ship killing one man and causing considerable damage. After transfer of wounded and repair to her battle damage at Kerama Retto, Riddle got underway on 16 April as an escort to Saipan.
The attack continued later and Tony recalls everyone running for cover as he continued to fire as he was strapped into
his gun harness and he shot down a total of 6 kamikaze planes.
Tony tells the story how one Kamikaze plane hit the Deck of the Riddle and its 500 Lbs. bomb was released and went through
the hull of the ship and the plane continued to slide off the bow of the ship causing great damage and both ending up in the water
and then exploding in the ocean.
The Crew of the USS Riddle DE185 (Click here to read about the Riddle)
Visiting Brother Larry in Brooklyn after Boot Camp in Rhode Island
 
 
Tonys' Reunion with his Shipmates, Tony is seen below last man on the right
On Leave during a Visit to Central Park
In Miami for Gunners Mate Training
Tony & Ship Mates Celebrating in Hawii after surviving the Kamikaze attacks
Front and Back of Tonys' Navy Photo Gunners Mate 3/C, USS Riddle DE185
 
 
 
Tony Received a Bachelor's degree from Adelphi College and later became the Treasurer for Selchow & Righter the company that brought Scrabble, Parcheesi and Trivial Persuit to the world.
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