Wm. F 'Bill' Surgi Jr.

AD1 William F. Surgi, Jr. USN (Ret.), veteran of the war in the Pacific and the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway died on November 1, 2003 Bill was the President of the Coral Sea Association. He had indeed, been aboard the Yorktown in the Battle of the Coral Sea when the carrier was struck by a direct bomb hit. After the Yorktown was repaired at Pearl Harbor, Bill Surgi and the carrier headed toward Midway. Ironically, the great carrier was struck again, this time by multiple torpedo and bomb hits on June 4, 1942. During these attacks, Surgi sustained a broken arm. Fate smiled on Bill, as he was able to escape from the disabled Yorktown before it was ultimately sunk by torpedoes from a Japanese submarine on June 6, 1942. Surgi received the Purple Heart for his wounds at Midway. On February 7, 1952, he retired from the Navy at the insistence of his family. However in December 1973, he joined the Navy Reserve. Ten years later at age 60, he finally retired, once and for all.
His devotion to the Navy persisted throughout his whole life. He continued to be very active in promoting Navy causes. Bill was with Dr. Robert Ballard on May 19, 1998, when the later discovered the Yorktown (CV-5), resting on the Pacific floor almost 18,000 feet deep. He received the Midway Medallion from the Foundation in honor of his profound commitment to promoting the Battle of Midway. Good-bye, Bill.