James Sarago, age 83, of Clarksville, died Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Gateway Medical Center.
   He was born August 28, I 1928 in Republic, PA, the son of Frank Sarago and Catherine Grbavac Sarago.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Esther Sarago; three brothers; three sisters.
   He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He retired from the U.S. Army with over 30 years service. He served in both the Korean Conflict and Vietnam.
   He is survived by four sons, Byron (Linda) Sarago, Dennis Sarago, Kirk (Patricia) Sarago and Derrick Sarago; two daughters, Kathy Sarago and Paula (Bill) Allen; one brother, Tom Sarago; one sister, Dorothy Kutleska; thirteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
   Funeral service will be 3 p.m., Tuesday at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Chapel with Deacon Dominic Azzara officiating,. Burial in Riverview Cemetery with Full Military Honors.
   Visitation will be Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN, 931-645-6488 www.neal-tarpley.com

[The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville, TN, 17 Oct 2011, Mon, Page 12[

James served in the U.S. Navy during WWII aboard the USS Diphda (AKA-59) which was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship named after a star in the constellation Cetus.

The Diphda was launched 11 May 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, under a Maritime Commission contract and was transferred to the Navy on 7 July 1944.

James appears on various Navy Muster Rolls for the Diphda crew between 1 July 1946 and 1 September 1947, all entries under the rank of Seaman Second Class.  The two examples at left are typical.  The ship operated in western and northern Pacific operations during that period and earned 1 battle star.

Grave marker for James Sarago and spouse in Row 11, Riverview Cemetery, Clarksville (Montgomery county), Tennessee.

James served in  E Co, 508th  ARCT, from 1954 to 1956.