FLORO, Julius J.
1916 - 1990 (73 years)
-
Name FLORO, Julius J. - Julius (Joe) Floro claimed to be a World War II Submarine veteran who served on several submarine combat patrols in the Pacific Theater. He may have exaggerated his submarine service, but worked on them in refits between patrol from Subbase Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
He once claimed to have been on board the USS Tang with Richard Hetherington O'Kane as commanding officer. However, a review of the crew roster included with the book "Clear the Bridge!: The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang," written by O'Kane after the war does not include Joe Floro as crew member.
After Joe left the Navy, he worked as a union Electrician the remainder of his career. - As per family stories, Joe was scheduled to leave the Navy with an honorable discharge on December 8, 1941, finishing up a four-year tour. At the time he was attached to the light cruiser USS Honolulu, CL-48, homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, Japan attacked the US Naval Fleet at Pearl Harbor and launching the US into WWII.
As a result of the attack, all discharges were immediately suspended and Joe served on active duty for the duration of the war. At some point after the Pearl Harbor attack Joe was assigned to repairing submarines.
About the USS Honolulu (CL 47): a Brooklyn-class light cruiser active in the Pacific War (World War II). Honolulu was launched in 1937 and commissioned in 1938. During the Pearl harbor attack on December 7, 1941, the Honolulu only suffered minor hull damage from a near miss from a bomb that exploded under the water.
During the war Honolulu served in the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Battle of Kula Gulf, the Battle of Kolombangara and the Battle of Peleliu. She was taken out of action by serious torpedo damage just before the Battle of Leyte Gulf. She was repaired, but not in time to rejoin the war. She was decommissioned in 1947 and was held in reserve until she was scrapped in 1959. [1] - Back story on Julius' Navy rating insignia photograph; From Paul Hurteau - "The first time he showed me his ribbons I asked if I could have them and he told me he was giving them to his son, Years later, the last time I saw him alive, he handed them to me, I took his uniform coat and cut it up to make this plaque, It was at his funeral and I have had it ever since."
Paul also relates that Joe left the Navy when he met and married his first wife. In later years, Joe spoke often of how much he regretted not staying in for the full 20 years. His rating photo shows three "Hash marks," each one signifying four years service. Joe would have left active duty with between 12 - 15 years service.
Nickname Joe Born 8 Dec 1916 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
Gender Male Military Service Active 1937 [2] Julius had volunteered for service in the US Navy. He served as an "Electrician's Mate." He was scheduled to muster out of the Navy on December 8, 1941. However, with the Pearl Harbor attack just the day prior, Julius opted to stay in. He remained in active service until the end of WWII. Military Service Discharge 1945 Died 15 Jun 1990 Millville, Massachusetts Buried Saint Jean-Baptiste Catholic Cemetery, Bellingham, Massachusetts, United States Person ID I92 Charest Genealogy Last Modified 9 Dec 2022
Father FLORO, Walter, b. Italy Mother MEO, Maria, b. Italy Family ID F90 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 CHAREST, Therese Joan D'Arc, b. 9 Jun 1920, Pawtucket, RI , d. 5 Jul 2014, Woonsocket, RI (Age 94 years) Married 24 Jun 1972 First Methodist Church, San Mateo, CA [4] Type: Formal, Reception - A security form of Rosaire Adele Charest dated 6 Sept 1973 shows Therese married to Joseph Floro, living at:
1535 Lorraine Avenue
San Mateo, California 94401 - Therese and Julius had two weddings in Protestant then Catholic ceremonies as Therese was French Catholic and Julius was Protestant (Methodist). Their first wedding was on June 24, 1972 (First Methodist Church, San Mateo, CA), and on September 22, 1984 (St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Rohnert Park, CA). I've listed their first wedding here. [3]
Photos 
Wedding of Therese Charest and Julius Floro
Wedding of Therese Charest and Julius Floro, June 24, 1972Last Modified 10 Dec 2020 Family ID F43 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 2 FIRST WIFE, First Wife Notes - Julius (Joe) Floro was married prior to his marriage with Teresa Charest.
Children 1. FLORO, Beth [Birth] 2. FLORO, Louise [Birth] 3. FLORO, John [Birth] Last Modified 6 Dec 2020 Family ID F60 Group Sheet | Family Chart
- Julius (Joe) Floro claimed to be a World War II Submarine veteran who served on several submarine combat patrols in the Pacific Theater. He may have exaggerated his submarine service, but worked on them in refits between patrol from Subbase Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
-
Photos Joe Floro in Hawaii November 17th,1941
Joe Floro was in the US Navy, stationed onboard the USS Honolulu. He was to be discharged on his birthday, December 8th, 1941, Needless to say, He stayed for the duration of WW II. This photo taken November 17th, 1941. The woman in the photo is unknown, believed to be a girlfriend of Joe's at the time.Wedding of Therese Charest and Julius Floro
Wedding of Therese Charest and Julius Floro, June 24, 1972
Julius (Joe) Floro's Navy Rating Patch and Awards
Joe Floro served between 12 - 15 years active duty in the US Navy before and during WWII. He left service as E-6, First Class Electrician's Mate. His Navy insignia and awards maintained by Paul Hurteau.
Documents 
A memorial Letter for Julius "Joe" Floro
A letter to the Editor of the local Rohnert Park, California newspaper honoring the life of Joseph Floro. Rohnert Park, is in Sonoma County, California. Joe and Therese (Charest) Floro lived there for many years after Joe retired. He moved back to Millville, Massachusetts, with Therese in April 1990, a few months before he died.
Obituary for Julius "Joe" Floro
Undated newspaper obituary for Julius "Joe" Floro. Joe dies 15 July 1990.
Obituary for Julius "Joe" Floro
A funeral card obituary for Julius "Joe" Floro
Headstones 
Hurteau Family Headstone Side One
The Hurteau family headstone. Members of the family buried here include:
Julius L Flores
Therese J Charest
Jeannine Hurteau Biller
Denis E Hurteau
Ronald G Hurteau
Histories 
Biography of Therese (Hurteau/Flores/Gaunt) Charest
A biography of Therese Charest written in the first person by Roger Forbes, nephew of Therese Charest. Provides a rich source of Charest family data researched from family sources and public records.
-
Sources - [JOE FLORO NAVY CAREER] (Reliability: 2).
Paul Hurteau is the source for background information on Julius (Joe) Floro.
Information on the USS Honolulu from the Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Honolulu_(CL-48) - [PAUL HERTEAU] .
Family anecdote from Paul Herteau - [ROGER FORBES - RESEARC] (Reliability: 3).
"I married Julius Louis (some records say Julian) Floro in Protestant then Catholic ceremonies; on June 24, 1972 (First Methodist Church, San Mateo, CA), and on September 22, 1984 (St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Rohnert Park, CA). He was born December 8, 1916, son of Walter Floro (Italy) and Maria Meo (Italy). His occupation was Electrician and he died July 15, 1990 (St. Jean Baptiste Cemetery, Bellingham, MA)."
Researcher: Roger Forbes, author of biography of Therese Charest (Hurteau / Floro / Gaunt). Biography resides in this archive under "History of Therese Charest." - [S3] Security Questionnaire, US Military Document, 2 (Reliability: 3).
- [JOE FLORO NAVY CAREER] (Reliability: 2).