Sign Honors World War II Service of Tuna Fleet [Update]

Tuesday, 08 July 2008

A commemorative sign that chronicles the history of tuna clippers and the 600 tuna fishermen called into service during World War II now graces the entrance of Tuna Harbor along the Embarcadero.

The vessels were used to transport troops, fuel and ammunition in areas that were inaccessible to naval warships. Prized for their refrigeration capabilities, the 52 clippers became the "errand boys of the Pacific" and also delivered fresh food, including turkeys and the trimmings for holiday meals, to the troops stationed in the Pacific theater.

"I remember listening to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the radio during World War II when he said that troops will get a holiday meal. At the time I didn't know it was my husband and other servicemen aboard the Paramount doing the delivery," said Lucile Madruga, widow of Edward X. Madruga, who was in command of the clipper Paramount.

Mrs. Madruga assisted in unveiling the sign at the June 28 dedication ceremony, along with Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners Michael Bixler, former President of the American Tuna Boat Association August Felando, and Mrs. Adeline Madruga, wife of Joe Madruga, who also served aboard Paramount and attended the ceremony.

"It's an honor to be here today to dedicate this sign that explains the important role that the tuna fleet played in our war efforts," said Chairman Bixler.

A few of the surviving tuna fishermen who served on these vessels attended the dedication ceremony. One of these survivors is Vito Sardo, now in his mid-80s. Mr. Sardo was already enlisted in the Navy when an admiral pulled him out of his group and told him that "he was going fishing for the U.S.Navy." He served on the tuna vessel Santa Ines, which was deployed to the Marianna Island chain. Along with supplementing the servicemen's diets with fresh fish, he also recalls delivering onions, oranges and other perishables to appreciative U.S. servicemen.

Update:

The original article incorrectly referenced the Hawaiian island chain as the deployment area of the Santa Ines. We regret the error.