On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Joseph Pereira of Port St Lucie, Florida, passed away at age 94.

Joseph was born on October 14, 1925 in Manhattan, New York City, the son of Constantino and Ana Pereira (Echezuria).

Immediately upon graduating high school in 1943, Joseph enlisted from the Bronx, New York City, into the United States Navy. Joseph joined the crew of the destroyer USS Cogswell as a coxswain, and from 1943 through 1945 fought Imperial Japan throughout the Pacific, including battles at, among many other places, the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands, Guam, the Philippine Sea, Palau, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Formosa, and at Leyte Gulf—arguably the largest naval battle ever fought in world history. In addition to assisting the United States in seizing numerous small islands on the way towards the conquest of Japan and frequently defending supply ships and escorting damaged US Navy ships to safety, the Cogswell assisted in the defense of Australia, New Zealand and China from invasion, and in the liberation of the Philippines. In June 1945, the Cogswell had the dangerous duty of radar picket for a planned invasion of the Japanese mainland. In recognition of its extraordinary service, Joseph and his crewmates of the Cogswell were assigned to be the first US Navy vessel to sail into defeated Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 for the surrender ceremonies that ended World War II. Joseph left the service in 1946, having earned the American Theatre Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal-10 stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal-2 stars, and the Victory Medal.

Joseph loved most to spend time with his family and friends, and loved bowling, Coca Cola, Hershey kisses, pineapple soda, and watching westerns on tv. He was known for his block parties in Levittown, where he was the life of the party, for the shortest phone conversations, and for never aging.

Joseph is survived by his wife of 40 years, Anna, his sister, Elva Forte, his four children, Janis, Joseph and his wife Flora, Denise and her husband Donald, and Belinda, his nine grandchildren, Jeanette, Laura, Joyce, Gene, Phillip, Christopher, Brian, Diana, and Candice, and his nine great-grandchildren, Cassandra, Austin, Cody, Patrick, DeAnnica, Connor, Jackson, Aiden, Sophia, Tomoki, and Haruki, in addition to many nieces and nephews. He is preceded by Isabel Pereira and Anthony Forte (brother-in-law).

On May 19, 2021—a memorial service and a VA service will be held at Forest Hills Funeral Home, 2001 SW Murphy Road, Palm City, FL 34990. Donations may be sent to the COPD Foundation--Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.