Edward H. Littlejohn, age 94, of Dover, DE. died July 16, 2017. Born in Sidney, Ohio
he was the son of the late Granville and Frances (Huffman) Littlejohn. He joined the
US Navy in 1942 and ultimately served on the USS White Plains, an escort carrier in the Pacific
which was part of the task unit (Taffy 3) consisting of small escort carriers and destroyer escorts
that faced the main Japanese fleet in the Battle off Samar. Historians call it one of the greatest military mismatches in naval history. Taffy 3 fought so hard and energetically that the Japanese Admiral thought they were facing a bigger force and eventually retreated. To this day, among his ribbons, is the Presidential Unit Citation with battle star awarded Taffy 3. He was also recipient of three battle stars.
He left the Navy on January 23, 1946 as an aviation metalsmith first class, returning to his welding job at
Troy SunShade Company. Within a year he was back in the military serving in the US Air Force as a flight
engineer. He flew with record breaking crews on B-17’s, C-97’s and C-133’s, delivered cargo to troops during the Korean Conflict, and arrived in Dover in the late 1950’s. On his retirement from the Air Force in 1965, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. Again, within a year he was back in uniform, this time with the Delaware Air National Guard, where he flew cargo missions to Vietnam. Upon his discharge from the Air Guard on February 11, 1969, he sold welding supplies and worked in Civil Service at Dover Air Force Base in a number of positions. He was a member of the Dover Council of
the Knights of Columbus and had been a faithful member of the Holy Cross Church throughout the years. He was a dedicated volunteer, Christmas tree donor, inveterate reader, passionate collector, wonderful dad and loving husband. In November of 1990, Josephine (Feller) Littlejohn, his wife and mother of their four children, passed away and in time he met and married Toni O’Brien. She too passed on June 24, 2008. Mr. Littlejohn leaves his four children, Steven E. Littlejohn; David R. Littlejohn; Susan F. Machemer and Mary L. Bingham. Five step-children, William O’Brien; Cathi O’Brien; Gina Davies; Matthew O’Brien and Amy Kuti. Also survived by four grandchildren, three great grandchildren, eight step grandchildren and one step-great grandchild. He has joined another grandchild already in Heaven.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, July 21, 2017 at 12 noon at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 631 S. State St. Dover, DE. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Dover, DE. There will be a Viewing on Thursday eve. from 6 until 8 PM at the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso 1175 S. State St. Dover, DE. Family suggests donations in his memory to the Knights of Columbus Council 4182, Camden, DE 19934.