Battle of Midway Purple Heart group (CSt Marcelino Arcardo, USS Yorktown)

“Battle of Midway” group of 8 to Chief Steward Marcelino Arcardo, USS Yorktown; Purple Heart, slot brooch, hand-engraved “Marcelino/Arcardo/USN”, with “Battle of Midway” hand-engraved below that; Navy Good Conduct Medal, slot brooch. hand-engraved “Marcelino/Arcardo/1934″, with slide-on bars “Second Award”, “Third Award” and “Fourth Award”; American Defense Service Medal, slot brooch, clasp “Fleet”; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with 3 large stars on the ribbon; Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Philippine Liberation Medal (Philippine-made). With his CSC book (marked “Duplicate”), showing service from December 1928 through 1948; shellback card from USS Yorktown; shellback card from USS Hornet (March 1944); Merchant Mariner’s identity card (March 1956); bullion Chief Steward’s rating; blue-on-white Mess Attendant First Class rating. The pins on several of the medals are damaged from being mounted in a display frame .

Arcardo, born in the Philippines, served aboard USS Rigel (1929-1934), USS Lexington (1934-1937), USS Ranger (1940-1941), USS Suwannee (1942-1943), USS Yorktown (1942, 1943-1944) and USS Hornet (1944-1946). His CSC book is annotated “Served on board USS Yorktown during operations against Marcus Island, 31 Aug; Wake Is, 5-6 Oct; Gilbert and Marshall Is. 19-27 Nov and 4-6 Dec and Marshall Is 29 Jan to 4 Feb. His performance of duty in these actions against the enemy has reflected credit upon himself and the Naval service”. Officers’ Cook Third Class Arcardo is listed among the surviving Yorktown crewmen, which sank on 7 June 1942 at Midway. It is likely that his original Good Conduct Medal and CSC book went to the bottom with Yorktown. Chief Arcardo died in March 1957 and is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California.