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November 8, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 7-8 PM on Sunday, November 10, 2013 at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 285 French Hill Road, Wayne. At 8 PM after the visitation will be an eveing Funeral Service.
The Burial Service will be held 9 AM on Monday, November 11, 2013 at the church and then to Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Saddle Brook where Military Honors will be bestowed.
Stephen Dancko
Chief Warrant Officer, Retired United States Navy
Stephen Dancko age 94 of Towaco passed away peacefully on Friday, November 8, 2013.
He was born in Pine Hill, Pennsylvania and raised in Passaic, New Jersey where he attended Passaic High School.
In October of 1937 at the age of seventeen he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served his country for over twenty-one years. In March of 1938 he was assigned to the West Coast of the United States and the Turret Gun Crew of the heavy cruiser the USS Minneapolis CA-36. The ship was assigned to a Hawaiian Task Force and was given a new home port in the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On December 6, 1941 the USS Minneapolis put out to sea to conduct night gunnery exercises. On the morning of the 7th of December at 7:55 AM, the USS Minneapolis was at the entrance of Pearl Harbor when the first flight of enemy aircraft were sighted. The ship’s general alarm sounded for crew members to man their battle stations to take on the Japanese aircraft. The enemy swooped down on prize targets bunched defensively on the Naval Base in Pearl Harbor. The USS Minneapolis was ordered to stay clear of the harbor but to protect the entrance from enemy forces at sea. A second wave of Japanese appeared and within two hours eight battleships, three cruisers, and four other vessels of the Pacific fleet were demolished. Casualties were extremely high and twenty-two year old Stephen Dancko was forever changed. Three days later the USS Minneapolis entered the harbor to take on survivors and to make up a war time compliment of crew members. That evening they put out to sea to rendezvous with the Australian Navy in the Coral Sea. From 1941 through 1945 Stephen earned numerous campaign awards including the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 12 stars, each star denoting a major engagement against the enemy. From August of 1943 through December of 1944 he was assigned to the USS Fremont APA-44 as Head Maintenance Electrician. On September 2, 1945 (VJ Day) he personally witnessed the signing of the complete surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay. He was again reassigned to the USS Pamina AKA-34 as Electrical Officer “E” Division Officer, and Engineering Watch Officer. From January 1946 through July of 1946 he was assigned to the New York Naval Shipyard as Electrical Repair Officer and Assistant to Ship Repair Superintendent; from July 1947 through June of 1948 he was the Head Maintenance Electrician for the USS Midway CVB-41; from June 1948 through June 1949 he was a Gyro Compass School Instructor; from July 1949 to May 1951 he served aboard the USS Eberle DD-430 as Head Maintenance Electrician; from May of 1951 to April of 1952 he served on the USS Wasp CV-18 again as Head Maintenance Electrician; from April 1952 to May 1953 he served aboard the USS Taconic GC-17 as Elecrical Officer “E” Division Officer, Engineering Watch Officer; June 153 to October 195 MSTSLant, Electrical Member of Maintenance Procedure Board, Junior Staff Watch Officer; and from November 1955 through 1958 he served aboard the USS Mississippi EAG-128, as Station Officer, and Engineering Watch Officer; and finally aboard the USS Albany CA-123, Unit of the Sixth Fleet as Ships Electrician. He was Honorably discharged on July 31, 1958 after twenty-one years of service.
Battles
Battle of Pearl Harbor, Battle of Bouganville, Battle of Salamaua, Battle of Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Expedition of Tulagi and Guadalcanal, Occupation of Ellice Islands, Battle of Tassafaronga, Occupation of Saipan, Okinawa, Leyte, Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, and Japan.
Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded
Navy Good Conduct Medal w/2 stars, American Defense Service Medal w/1 star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/12 stars, Victory Medal (WWII), Navy Occupation Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal.
Received citations from the President of the United States, President Harry S. Truman, the Navy Department and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. The Governor of the State of New Jersey, Governor Thomas Kean, declared his deep gratitude.
After his service in the US Navy he found employment with the McKiernan and Terry, Kearfott and Electrotech Company in Caldwell, NJ and produced parts for the United States Space Program.
He was extremely family oriented, always gave of himself for others, loved reading, the Jersey Shore, and being on the beach in the Gulf of Mexico, and Naples, Florida. He was quiet, reserved, methodical, and very proud to service his country. A devoted member of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wayne, he loved attending church and looked forward to socializing with his friends at church. He also enjoyed his daily trips for breakfast with his son-in-law Pat.
Stephen was the loving husband of sixty-one years to the late Margaret Dancko (2002) whom he married on July 5, 1942, while on leave from the Navy as Margaret’s mom was very ill and she so wanted to see her daughter get married; devoted father of Lani Curcio and her husband Patrick of Towaco; cherished grandfather of Jason Curcio and his wife Danielle; much loved great-grandfather of Makayla Ilyse and Juliana Rose Curcio; dear brother of the late John and George Dancko.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 285 French HIll Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 would be appreciated.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family from 7-8 PM on Sunday, November 10, 2013 at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 285 French Hill Road, Wayne. At 8 PM after the visitation will be an eveing Funeral Service.
The Burial Service will be held 9 AM on Monday, November 11, 2013 at the church and then to Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Saddle Brook where Military Honors will be bestowed.
November 8, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 7-8 PM on Sunday, November 10, 2013 at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 285 French Hill Road, Wayne. At 8 PM after the visitation will be an eveing Funeral Service.
The Burial Service will be held 9 AM on Monday, November 11, 2013 at the church and then to Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Saddle Brook where Military Honors will be bestowed.
Stephen Dancko
Chief Warrant Officer, Retired United States Navy
Stephen Dancko age 94 of Towaco passed away peacefully on Friday, November 8, 2013.
He was born in Pine Hill, Pennsylvania and raised in Passaic, New Jersey where he attended Passaic High School.
In October of 1937 at the age of seventeen he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served his country for over twenty-one years. In March of 1938 he was assigned to the West Coast of the United States and the Turret Gun Crew of the heavy cruiser the USS Minneapolis CA-36. The ship was assigned to a Hawaiian Task Force and was given a new home port in the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On December 6, 1941 the USS Minneapolis put out to sea to conduct night gunnery exercises. On the morning of the 7th of December at 7:55 AM, the USS Minneapolis was at the entrance of Pearl Harbor when the first flight of enemy aircraft were sighted. The ship’s general alarm sounded for crew members to man their battle stations to take on the Japanese aircraft. The enemy swooped down on prize targets bunched defensively on the Naval Base in Pearl Harbor. The USS Minneapolis was ordered to stay clear of the harbor but to protect the entrance from enemy forces at sea. A second wave of Japanese appeared and within two hours eight battleships, three cruisers, and four other vessels of the Pacific fleet were demolished. Casualties were extremely high and twenty-two year old Stephen Dancko was forever changed. Three days later the USS Minneapolis entered the harbor to take on survivors and to make up a war time compliment of crew members. That evening they put out to sea to rendezvous with the Australian Navy in the Coral Sea. From 1941 through 1945 Stephen earned numerous campaign awards including the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 12 stars, each star denoting a major engagement against the enemy. From August of 1943 through December of 1944 he was assigned to the USS Fremont APA-44 as Head Maintenance Electrician. On September 2, 1945 (VJ Day) he personally witnessed the signing of the complete surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay. He was again reassigned to the USS Pamina AKA-34 as Electrical Officer “E” Division Officer, and Engineering Watch Officer. From January 1946 through July of 1946 he was assigned to the New York Naval Shipyard as Electrical Repair Officer and Assistant to Ship Repair Superintendent; from July 1947 through June of 1948 he was the Head Maintenance Electrician for the USS Midway CVB-41; from June 1948 through June 1949 he was a Gyro Compass School Instructor; from July 1949 to May 1951 he served aboard the USS Eberle DD-430 as Head Maintenance Electrician; from May of 1951 to April of 1952 he served on the USS Wasp CV-18 again as Head Maintenance Electrician; from April 1952 to May 1953 he served aboard the USS Taconic GC-17 as Elecrical Officer “E” Division Officer, Engineering Watch Officer; June 153 to October 195 MSTSLant, Electrical Member of Maintenance Procedure Board, Junior Staff Watch Officer; and from November 1955 through 1958 he served aboard the USS Mississippi EAG-128, as Station Officer, and Engineering Watch Officer; and finally aboard the USS Albany CA-123, Unit of the Sixth Fleet as Ships Electrician. He was Honorably discharged on July 31, 1958 after twenty-one years of service.
Battles
Battle of Pearl Harbor, Battle of Bouganville, Battle of Salamaua, Battle of Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Expedition of Tulagi and Guadalcanal, Occupation of Ellice Islands, Battle of Tassafaronga, Occupation of Saipan, Okinawa, Leyte, Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, and Japan.
Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded
Navy Good Conduct Medal w/2 stars, American Defense Service Medal w/1 star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/12 stars, Victory Medal (WWII), Navy Occupation Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal.
Received citations from the President of the United States, President Harry S. Truman, the Navy Department and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. The Governor of the State of New Jersey, Governor Thomas Kean, declared his deep gratitude.
After his service in the US Navy he found employment with the McKiernan and Terry, Kearfott and Electrotech Company in Caldwell, NJ and produced parts for the United States Space Program.
He was extremely family oriented, always gave of himself for others, loved reading, the Jersey Shore, and being on the beach in the Gulf of Mexico, and Naples, Florida. He was quiet, reserved, methodical, and very proud to service his country. A devoted member of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wayne, he loved attending church and looked forward to socializing with his friends at church. He also enjoyed his daily trips for breakfast with his son-in-law Pat.
Stephen was the loving husband of sixty-one years to the late Margaret Dancko (2002) whom he married on July 5, 1942, while on leave from the Navy as Margaret’s mom was very ill and she so wanted to see her daughter get married; devoted father of Lani Curcio and her husband Patrick of Towaco; cherished grandfather of Jason Curcio and his wife Danielle; much loved great-grandfather of Makayla Ilyse and Juliana Rose Curcio; dear brother of the late John and George Dancko.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 285 French HIll Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 would be appreciated.
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