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A few items from my personal Purple Heart
collection
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LAWRENCE N. ANDERSON
T/Sgt. Anderson served as the top turret
gunner and flight engineer aboard B-24G serial number 42-78318 named
"All Meat - No Potatoes." The aircraft's target for the day was the
synthetic oil refineries at Blechhammer North, Germany. While over the
target, Anderson's aircraft took a direct flak hit, tearing off the #1
engine and putting the plane into a spin. Five of the crew we able to
bail out, and became prisoners of war. In post-war interviews, surviving
crewmembers remember seeing Anderson dead in his top turret position,
apparently killed by the initial flak hit.
Anderson was from Wakefield,
Massachusetts.
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WILLIAM H. ARLEDGE Pfc. William H. Arledge
served with Company B, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne
Division and was killed in action on October 6, 1944 during the savage
fighting at Opheusden, Holland.
George Koskimaki, in his book Hell's Highway tells the story
of Arledge's death as related by B Company communications Corporal Henry
Gogola:
"We were in a ditch about fifty yards or so from the road when,
suddenly, we saw what I believe was a Tiger tank looking right down
our throats. His machine gun was chattering to pin us down. It fired
an artillery round in our direction. The ground shook like
Jello. I know that I bounced up and was slammed back down. I heard
a scream close by and saw PFC Bill Arledge not more than eight feet
to my side. He had a good part of his torso blown away but was still
alive - barely. I shot him up with morphine. There was not much more
I could do for him. He was gone within a very short time. Another
friend lost."
Arledge's body was never recovered and he is memorialized on the
Tablet of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten,
Holland. Arledge was from Jefferson County, Alabama |
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JAMES M. BAKER
1st Lt. James M. Baker, 34th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Group, was KIA 20 July 1944 aboard B-26 Ser
#42-96021.
While on their bombing run against the Ostiglia Road Bridge near Corniglio, Italy,
Baker's aircraft was hit by accurate anti-aircraft fire, knocking out
one of the plane's two engines and jamming the bomb bay doors open.
Numerous eyewitnesses reported seeing the plane lose altitude, even as
the crew began to jettison all loose equipment. The aircraft eventually
struck a mountain overlooking the town of Bosco di Corniglia, exploding
on impact.
Baker was from Chicago, Illinois. He is
buried with his fellow crewmen in a mass grave at Zachary Taylor
National Cemetery.
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JOSEPH L. BALE III
Pfc. Joseph L. Bale III served with the 7th Infantry
Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, and was killed in action on 30 January
1945. In addition to his posthumous Purple Heart shown here, he was also
awarded a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross (location unknown).
Bale's posthumous DSC citation reads:
For extraordinary
heroism in action on 30 Jan 1945 near Wihr-en-Plaine, France when his
battalion was attacked and halted by enemy tanks, which rolled over the
assault riflemen and killed others. With 88mm machine gun fire and rifle
grenade fire, Pfc Bale fearlessly attacked with his rocket launcher,
ignoring shells exploding five yards away and machine gun bullets which
raked the position, he knocked out an enemy tank, forcing the Germans to
withdraw. Later the same morning when his Bn. Op. was attacked by
another tank at 100 yards, he braved shell fire in a single-handed
attempt to destroy it, but was mortally wounded.
Bale was from Detroit Michigan.
He is buried at Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France.
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Zeke crashes into the USS St Lo flight deck.

Secondary explosions aboard the St. Lo.

The USS St. Lo, early 1944
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HERMAN W. BANKS
Electricians Mate 2nd Class Herman W. Banks was killed
in action 25 October 1944 aboard the escort carrier USS St. Lo
during the Battle Off Samar. After surviving the earlier morning's attack
on the Task Force, at 10:51 a.m. the ship was called to General Quarters
in anticipation of an air attack. As the St. Lo was landing planes,
a kamikaze aircraft entered the landing pattern and crashed into the
flight deck, its bombs penetrating the hangar deck where crews were
refueling and rearming planes. The resulting explosions from the ship's
own ammunition and gasoline ultimately reached the bomb stowage, causing a
massive explosion which eventually sank the St. Lo.
Banks was from Yellow Springs, Ohio. He is memorialized
on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Philippines. |
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Warren W. Becker, Camp Mackall, ca. 1943

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WARREN W. BECKER
Sgt. Warren W. Becker served with Co. I, 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He was KIA on
September 27, 1944, during Operation Market Garden near Groesbeek,
Holland.
Originally buried in the US military cemetery in Molenhoek,
Holland, his remains were later repatriated to Eden Cemetery in Schiller
Park, IL. Becker was from Chicago, IL. |
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JAMES D. BENDER
Col. Bender was the Regimental Commander of the 331st Inf. Regt.,
83rd Division, and was killed in action 11 July 1944 when the jeep he was traveling in was hit by a German 88 shell
near Marchesieux, France. Bender won his Silver Star during WWI.
He is buried at Normandy American Cemetery, St. Laurent, France.
Bender was from East Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is
buried at Normandy American Cemetery, St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France
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Aerial strike photo of the Enoura Maru
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ROGER S. BENSON
Captain Roger S. Benson, HQ Battery, 1st Battalion,
59th Coastal Artillery, was a prisoner of war aboard the Japanese Hellship Enoura Maru, when it was struck by dive
bombers from the
USS Hornet, while at anchor at Takao, Formosa on January 9, 1945.
Benson was from Coudersport, PA. |
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FRANK J. BELTER
S/Sgt. Belter was KIA 11 February 1945 during house to house fighting in Oberhoffen, France. He served
with Co I, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th
Infantry Division.
His posthumous Silver Star was awarded:
for gallantry in action
on 11 February, 1945 in France. While attacking well-fortified houses in
an enemy held town... Sgt. Belter volunteered to lead his squad across
open, fire-swept terrain into a group of houses where they could deliver
fire on the enemy's rear. Fully aware of the danger involved he started
to advance across the open space. While running towards his objective
Sgt. Belter was killed by machine-gun fire. His heroic action inspired
his comrades to renewed aggressiveness against the hostile force.
His body was never recovered. Sgt. Belter was from Park Falls,
Wisconsin.
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FREDERICK H. BEYER
Pfc. Beyer, Ordinance Department, was KIA 24 October 1944 while being
transported as a POW aboard the Japanese transport Arisan Maru
when the ship was torpedoed by an American submarine in the Bashi
Straits while en route from Manila to Formosa. Of the 1340 prisoners
aboard the Arisan Maru only nine were known to have survived the
sinking.
Beyer was from Alhambra, California
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VANCE A. BRADSHAW
S/Sgt. Bradshaw, Medical Department, died of wounds on 25 January 1945,
while being transported aboard the Japanese transport Brazil Maru
en route from Formosa to Japan and was buried at sea by his captors. Of
the 1620 prisoners who began transport on 13 Dec 1944, approximately 500
survivors reached Japan on Jan 30, 1945.
Bradshaw was from Ontario, California.
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LEONARD E. BRUCE
Pfc. Bruce, 502nd PIR, 101st Airborne Division,
was KIA 3 January 1945 near Bastogne. He is permanently interred at
Luxembourg American Cemetery, Hamm, Luxembourg.
Bruce was from St. Louis, Missouri.
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Fires aboard the USS Franklin, 3/19/45
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HAROLD BURKE
Seaman 2nd Class Harold Burke served aboard the
aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CVN-13). On March 19,
1945, the Franklin maneuvered within 50 miles of the Japanese
coast, in order to launch fighter sweeps against Honshu and shipping
strikes in Kobe Harbor. A Japanese bomber attacked the Franklin,
dropping two bombs on her flight deck, which set off ammunition, bombs and
rockets. Burke along with 723 other shipmates were killed in that attack.
Burke is officially listed as missing in action. He was from Wauwatosa,
Wisconsin. |
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VERNON C. BURKE JR
Sgt Burke was KIA 12 May 1944 while serving with 548th
Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group.
On that date Sgt. Burke was the tail gunner aboard a B-17G, 42-31787,
when it was rammed by an enemy fighter near Coburg, Germany.
Burke was from Audubon, Iowa.
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THOMAS B. BYRD
Pfc. Thomas B. Byrd served with Co. D, 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and was KIA on 15 June,1944 near
Les Rosiers, France. On that date the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 505th
PIR were ordered to attack west with the objective of taking the town of
St.-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. While approaching the hamlet of Les Rosiers, Co. D
ran into heavy German resistance, including two 75mm anti-tank guns and a
37mm antiaircraft gun. During the course of the engagement, Byrd was
killed in action.
Byrd was from McKinley County, New Mexico |
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JOHN L. CARMICHAEL
Flight Officer John L. Carmichael served with the 425th
Bomb Squadron, 308th Bomb Group. Carmichael was KIA on August 29, 1944
while on a mission to Yochow, China.
He is buried at the Punchbowl Cemetery in Hawaii.
Carmichael was from Iowa. |
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DONALD T. CHILDERS
Captain Donald T. Childers served as Company Commander
of Co. E, 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts. After intense
fighting on Bataan, the Philippine Scouts and other American units
surrendered to overwhelming Japanese forces in April 1942. After surviving
the Bataan Death March and horrific condition as a POW at Camp O'Donnell,
Childers was KIA on October 24, 1944 aboard the Japanese transport Arisan Maru
when the ship was torpedoed by an American submarine in the Bashi
Straits while en route from Manila to Formosa. Of the 1340 prisoners
aboard the Arisan Maru only nine were known to have survived the
sinking.
Childers was from Oregon. |
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ROY H. COMBS
Pvt. Combs served with Co. B, 1st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st
Division, and was KIA 10 October 1944 during
the severe fighting during the 1st Division's assault on the fortified
town of Aachen.
Combs was from Jackson County, Illinois and is buried at Ava Evergreen Cemetery in Ava, IL. |
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WILLIAM W. CONKLIN
Pfc. Conklin, Medical Dept, 381st Infantry Regt.,
96th Division, died of wounds on 12 April 1945 in the 31st Field
Hospital, Okinawa of shrapnel wounds to the head and neck.
Originally buried at the 96th Division Temporary
Cemetery on Okinawa, his remains were later repatriated to the National
Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu, Hawaii. Conklin was from Georgetown, KY. |
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JOE A. CUMMINGS Pfc. Joe A Cummings served with
Battery L, 4th Battalion, 13th Marines, 5th Marine Division and was
killed in action on Iwo Jima on 16 March 1945. On that date, the 5th
Marine Division was fighting a yard-by-yard battle against the final
remnants of Japanese forces on the island, who were deeply entrenched at
Kitano Point. Cummings was killed by a gun shot wound to the head.
Pfc. Cummings was from Belleville, Illinois. Initially interred
at the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, His remains were later
repatriated to Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. |
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WESLEY W. DAW
Pfc. Wesley W. Daw, HQ Co., 3rd Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division,
was KIA 26 Sept 44, near Lucy, France of gun shot wounds to the chest and
back.
He was initially buried in the US Military Cemetery, Andilly,
France. He was permanently interred in the US Military Cemetery, St.
Avold, France. Daw was from Divide, Colorado.
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HOLLISTER G. DE MOTTS
1st Lieutenant Hollister G. DeMotts served as a
liaison pilot with the 121st Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry
Division. He was killed in action on 9 February 1945.
His first Silver Star citation reads:
First
Lieutenant HOLLISTER G. DEMOTTS, 02036472, Field Artillery, United
States Army. For gallantry in action between Palo and Pinamopoan, Leyte,
Philippine Islands, from 23 October to 17 November 1944. During this
period Lieutenant DeMotts voluntarily made flights as liaison pilot over
enemy territory in which enemy Zero pilots were active and enemy ground
fire was directed at our planes when they were over enemy territory,
despite his awareness of the fact that liaison planes are slow, unarmed,
unarmored, extremely vulnerable, and not ordinarily intended for such
flights. On one of these flights his plane was hit by enemy ground fire,
finally being forced down behind our lines. Lieutenant DeMotts' unusual
courage and willingness to risk his life to meet military necessities
are worthy of the highest traditions of military service.
His second, posthumous, Silver
Star Citation reads:
First Lieutenant
HOLLISTER G. DEMOTTS, 02036472, Field Artillery, United States Army. For
gallantry in action at Luzon, Philippine Islands, between Olongapo and
Dinalupihan, from 1 February to 9 February 1945. During this period
Lieutenant DeMotts voluntarily made flights in liaison plane over enemy
territory from which enemy ground fire was directed at our planes,
despite his awareness of the fact that liaison planes are slow, unarmed,
unarmored, extremely vulnerable, and not ordinarily intended for such
flights. While adjusting the fire of his battalion on an enemy strong
point which was holding up the advance of our forces, he was shot down
by enemy ground fire. Lieutenant De Motts' devotion to duty and
outstanding courage reflect the highest credit upon himself and his
military service.
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KENNETH J. DETRICK
Sgt. Kenneth Detrick served with Company C, 23rd Tank Battalion, 12th
Armored Division and died of wounds on 13 April 1945, after being
wounded on April 10th.
Detrick's Bronze Star Citation reads:
For meritorious service from 10 to 21
January 1945, in the vicinity of ***********, France. In an engagement
with the enemy, Sergeant Detrick's tank succeeded in definitely knocking
out five enemy tanks as they attacked along the canal leading to
**********. Waiting patiently, Sergeant Detrick allowed the enemy to get
within 300 yards before giving the command to fire, although endangering
his own life and equipment. On the night of 20 January, Sergeant Detrick
with one other tank was given the mission of defending a bridge across
this canal. During the night the enemy attempted a dismounted attack
which these two tanks repulsed, leaving an unknown quantity of enemy
dead to their immediate front. The following day, Sergeant Detrick again
with another tank, flushed out a pocket of resistance, capturing many
prisoners and killing an uncounted number of the enemy.
Detrick was from Gettysburg, Ohio. He is
buried in New Harris Creek Cemetery in Newberry, Ohio |
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JOHN R. DONNELLY
Sgt. Donnelly, 641st Bomb Squadron, 409th Bomb Group (L), was killed
in a midair collision aboard A-20G serial number 43-9703 on 11 June 1944 during assembly 3 miles from their
Air Base in Little Walden, England. |
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HERBERT K. DOW Pf. Herbert K. Dow served with
Company E, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. He was
killed in action on July 15, 1944 near Leghorn, Italy.
Dow was from Lynnfield, Massachusetts. He is buried at Florence
American Cemetery, Via Cassia, Italy. |
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HAL H. DUPUY
Torpedoman 3rd Class Hal H. Dupuy served aboard the
submarine USS Shark (SS-314). The Shark failed to return from her
third war patrol. She was officially listed as missing in action on
November 7. 1944.
The Shark 's last contact was made with the USS
Seadragon on October 24th, when she stated she had made contact with a
single freighter and was preparing to attack. A short time later the
Japanese Hellship Arisan Maru, carrying 1800 American Prisoners of
war, was sunk by a torpedo from an American submarine. No other
submarine reported this attack, and it can only be assumed that the
Shark made the attack on the Arisan Maru, and perished during
or after the attack.
Dupuy was from Duncan, Oklahoma.
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VINTON J. EARLE Seaman 1st Class Vinton J. Earle
served aboard the USS Golet (SS-361). The Golet failed to
return from her second war patrol. After the war, Japanese records
indicate a successful anti-submarine attack was made on a boat on June
14, 1944 within Golet's assigned patrol area. It is assumed that
it was indeed the Golet sunk on this date.
Vinton was from Lisbon Falls, Maine. |
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WILBUR F. EDWARDS
Tec5 Edwards, a combat medic with the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th
Division, was KIA at the Remagen bridgehead on 9 March 1945.
Edwards is
buried in Gosport Cemetery, Gosport, Indiana.
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JOHN L. EGNEW
Aviation Machinist Mate Second Class John L. Egnew
served with Navy aviation squadron V-205, flying PBM-3s Martin Mariners
out of Trinidad. While on anti-submarine patrol on 6 August 1943,
Egnew's aircraft spotted the German U-boat U-615. At approximately 1320
hours, Egnew's aircraft reported that they were attacking the U-boat. Five
minutes later they reported their position, and stated they had damaged
the boat. A few minutes later a third report came in stating "DAMAGED,
FIRE." His aircraft was never heard from again.
After a two day running battle with the U-boat, the
U-615 was eventually sunk. Surviving crewmembers of the boat, in
interviews recorded after their rescue, told of shooting down Egnew's PBM,
which crashed into the sea nearby the U-boat. |
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ALBERT J. ELLISON
1st Lt Ellison, Co. E, 511 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division was killed in
action February 8, 1945 while attempting to rescue trapped troops during
the assault on Manila near Nichols Field. Ellison was awarded the
Bronze Star for heroic actions on 10 December 1944 during a
counterattack against Japanese positions.
Interestingly, Albert's son, Robert J. Ellison, who he never met,
went on to become an award winning photojournalist during the Vietnam
War, and was killed in action on March 6, 1968 near Khe Sanh, two weeks
before his feature photographs were published in Newsweek |
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ARTHUR D. ERWIN
Lt. Erwin was KIA 20 June 1944 over Misburg Germany while serving
with the 838th Sq., 487th BG. Lt. Erwin was from Texarkana, Arkansas. On
20 June 1944, Lt. Erwin was the pilot aboard B-24H serial number
42-95217 on a bombing mission against the oil refinery and storage depots
at Hannover-Misburg, Germany. While over the target Lt. Erwin's
plane took a direct hit from enemy flak which tore off its tail.
Lt.
Erwin was originally interred in the German military cemetery at Hannover-Limmer. His remains were repatriated and his final
resting
place is at Woodlawn Cemetery, Texarkana, Arkansas.
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WALTER A. FEUER
S/Sgt
Feuer served with the 337th Bomb Squadron, 96th
Bomb Group. On June 13, 1943, acting as right waist gunner, his B-17 was
attacked by 3 FW-190's off Kiel, Germany. With the aircraft on
fire and out of control, the crew bailed out. Two of the crew
survived to become POW's, while the others landed in the Baltic Sea and
were presumed to have drowned.
S/Sgt Feuer's remains were found on
the Kiel shore, and he was repatriated to Cedar Park Cemetery,
Chicago, Illinois
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RAYMOND P. FISHER Parachute Rigger 2nd Class
Fisher served aboard the escort carrier USS Liscombe Bay. On
November 24, 1943, the Liscombe Bay was struck by by two
torpedoes launched by IJN submarine I-175. The carrier sank within 30
minutes, with the loss of life of 646 officers and men.
Fisher was listed as MIA and officially declared dead on November 25,
1944. He was from Nebraska.
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CHARLES P. FLANZER
2nd Lt. Flanzer, 708th Bomb Sq., 445th Bomb Group, was KIA 3 March
1945, near Westerhausen, Germany. On that date, Lt. Flanzer was
the nose turret gunner aboard B-24J Serial Number 44-48844 on a bombing
mission to the oil works at Magdeburg, Germany. Five miles from the
target the B-24 took a direct hit from flak which tore its rudder off.
Five members of the crew were able to parachute to safety.
Flanzer and
other deceased crew members were initially interred in a civilian
cemetery in Westerhausen, Germany. His remains were later reinterred in
the US Military Cemetery, St. Avold, France. Flanzer was from Abingdon,
Pennsylvania.
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Charles E. Foster portrait during training

The explosion of the
SS Paul Hamilton
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CHARLES E. FOSTER
Sgt. Foster, 32nd Photo Recon Sq., was KIA 20 April 1944
aboard the Liberty Ship SS Paul Hamilton when the ship was
torpedoed by German bombers off Cape Bengut, Algeria while en route from
Norfolk, Virginia to Bizerte, Tunisia. The ship was carrying a crew of
47 merchant seamen, 29 Naval armed guard, and 504 USAAF personnel. There
were no survivors.
Foster was from Jameson, Missouri
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WILLIAM B. FOSTER
Ensign William Butcher Foster served aboard the USS
DeHaven (DD-469). On February 1, 1943 the DeHaven was operating
with Task Group 67.5, supporting the movements of ships attempting to
establish a beach head at Marovo on Guadalcanal. At approximately 1500
hours the ship was attacked by six Japanese bombers, and was struck by
three bombs. The DeHaven lost all way and immediately began to sink
by the bow, going under within minutes of the attack.
Foster is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing
at Manila American Cemetery. He was from White Plains, NY. |
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WILLIAM C. FOSTER
Staff Sergeant William C. Foster served with the 764th
Bomb Squadron, 461st Bomb Group. Foster was killed in action on October 4,
1944, when his B-24J "Lucky Lady" was downed by flak over West Marshalling
Yard at Munich, Germany.
Foster was from Pennsylvania. He is buried at
Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. |
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MARVIN P. FRINK
Marvin Polk Frink was born on April 14, 1941 in
Fresno, California. He graduated from the University of Florida in June
1941 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Frink applied for a
commission in the US Naval Reserve. After assignment to the Naval
Training School (Aeronautical Engineering) at the California Institute
of Technology, he was ordered to report to the Sixteenth Naval District
at Cavite, Philippine Islands. Official records show that Ensign Frink
survived the initial Japanese attacks on Cavite, and reached Corregidor,
and was there at the time of capitulation.
Ensign Frink was carried on the roster of those
missing in action, until he was officially declared dead on December 17,
1945.
Frink was from Tallahassee, Florida. He is
memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American
Cemetery. |
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EDWIN GLANTZ
Pvt. Edwin Glantz served with Company B, 141st Infantry
Regiment, 36th Division. Glantz was killed in action on January 21, 1944,
as two regiments of the 36th Division attempted to cross the Rapido River
near Sant' Angelo, Italy. Faced with accurate and deadly artillery and
small arms fire, the attack was easily repulsed by German defenders on the
opposite shore over a two day period.
The subject of Congressional
hearings in 1946, the Rapido River crossings were called "one of the most
colossal blunders of the Second World War," a "murderous blunder" that
"every man connected with this undertaking knew...was doomed to failure"
before it took place.
Pvt. Glantz is buried at
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. He was from
Scranton, PA.
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SYLVESTER T. GREENWALD Pharmacist's Mate Second
Class Sylvester T. Greenwald was killed in action on July 1, 1944, while
serving with the 2nd Marine Division on Saipan.
He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in
Honolulu. Greenwald was from Cooksville, IL. |
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EARL T. GRINDSTAFF
A B-26 co-pilot, 2nd Lt Earl T. Grindstaff, 455th Bomb Squadron, 323rd
Bomb Group, was MIA presumed KIA on 13 December 1943 when his aircraft
went down in the sea during a bombing mission to Shipol Airfield,
Amsterdam, Holland.
Grindstaff was from Corpus Christi, Texas.
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HAROLD H. GROSSMAN
T/5 Harold H. Grossman served with the 478th
Amphibian Truck Company. In the early morning hours of 28 April
1944, a convoy of LST's formed up in the English Channel near Slapton
Sands, South Devon, to perform a rehearsal for the upcoming Normandy
invasion At 0220 on 28 April, this convoy was attacked by
German E-Boats which broke through their covering force. LST 507 and LST
531 were sunk in this attack. 1946 servicemen died in this attack,
including T/5 Grossman.
Grossman was from Ossining, New York. |
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NEAL R. HAFT
Pvt. Neal R. Haft served with the 329th Infantry
Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, and was killed in action on July 15,
1944.
Haft was from Mooreheadville, PA. He is buried in
Oak Hill Cemetery in North East, PA. |
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AUGUST J. HAJDUK
Pvt. Hajduk served with Co. I, 26th Inf., 1st Division and was KIA 30
March 1943 in Tunisia.
He is permanently interred at Gafsa
Cemetery, Tunis, Tunisia. Hajduk was from Belleview, PA.
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USS Robalo
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HOWARD L. HAMILTON Torpedoman 3rd Class Howard
L. Hamilton served aboard the USS Robalo (SS-273). Robalo under
Cmdr. M.M. Kimmel, departed Fremantle on June 22, 1944 to conduct her
third war patrol in the South China Sea in the vicinity of the Natuna
Islands. After traversing Makassar and Balabac Straits, she was to
arrive on station about July 6th and stay there until dark on August 2,
1944. On July 2nd a contact report stated Robalo had sighted a
Fuso-class battleship with air cover and two destroyers for escort, just
east of Borneo. No other messages were received from Robalo and
when she did not return from patrol, she was reported as presumed lost.
The following information was received via the Philippine guerrillas
and an U.S. Navy enlisted man who was a prisoner of war at Puerto
Princesa Prison Camp, Palawan, P.I. On August 2, 1944, a note dropped
from the window of the prison cell in which survivors from Robalo
were held was picked up by an American soldier in a work detail and
given to H.D. Hough, Y2c, USN, another prisoner. On 4 August, Hough
contacted Mrs. Trinidad Mendosa, wife of guerrilla leader Dr. Mendosa,
who furnished further information on the survivors.
From these sources, he put together the following facts:
Robalo was sunk July 26, 1944, two miles off the western coast
of Palawan Island as a result of an explosion of her after battery. Four
men swam ashore, an officer and three enlisted men: Samuel L. Tucker,
Ens.; Floyd G. Laughlin, QM1c; Wallace K. Martin, SM3c, and Mason C.
Poston, EM2c. They made their way through the jungles to a small barrio
northwest of the Puerto Princesa camp. They were captured there by
Japanese Military Police, and confined in the jail. They were held for
guerrilla activities rather than as prisoners of war, it is said. On
August 15, 1944, a Japanese destroyer evacuated them, and nothing
further is known of their destination or whereabouts. The Japanese may
have executed them or the destroyer may have been sunk. At any rate,
they were never recovered and their note stated that there were no other
survivors.
It is doubtful that a battery explosion could be sufficiently violent
to cause the sinking of the ship; more likely Robalo struck an
enemy mine.
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JOHN M. HANNA
Seaman 1st Class John M. Hanna served aboard the Escort
Carrier USS Gambier Bay when it was sunk by Japanese gunfire on
October 25, 1944 during the Battle Off Samar.
Hanna is listed as missing in action. He was from
Staunton, Virginia. |
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JOHN F. HANRAHAN
2nd Lt. Hanranhan, HQ Company, 19th Engineers, was KIA 14 August 1943 in
Sicily.
Initially buried in Gela, Sicily, he was later repatriated
to Fairmount Cemetery, Willow Springs, IL. Hanrahan was from
Chicago, Illinois. |
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HOMER HANSEN
Pfc. Homer Hansen served with the 455th Medical
Collecting Company. He was on temporary duty with the 319th Medical Bn.,
94th Infantry Division to assist in the evacuation of casualties in
their drive to clear the Saar-Moselle triangle. Hansen was killed in
action on February 8, 1945.
Pfc. Hansen is buried in Luxembourg American
Cemetery. He was from Cook County, IL. |
|


Harrelson is pictured at
upper right
|
WILLIAM E. HARRELSON JR.
S/Sgt.
William E. Harrelson Jr. served with the 723rd Bomb Squadron, 450th Bomb Group,
and was KIA 3 March 1944, as his B-24, "Maggie Zass," crashed during
take off from their base at Manduria, Italy. The pilot attempted to abort
the take off half-way down the runway. Eyewitness accounts relate that
observers saw the aircraft in a nose-down attitude with wheel brakes
smoking. However, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft in time, and
it ran off the runway, setting off 5000 pounds of bombs and a full load of
aviation gas, killing the entire crew.
Harrelson was from Richmond, Virginia.
Harrelson served with S/Sgt. Charles W. Merrill,
and S/Sgt John E. Sullivan, who was also killed in the same accident.
See their groupings below.
|
|

|
JACK HARRIS
2nd Lt. Jack Harris, 423rd Bomb Sq., 306th Bomb Group was KIA 28 July
1943 while on a bombing mission to Wolfun, Germany. Harris was the pilot of
B-17F #42-29779. While over target, Harris' aircraft was attacked by
German fighters, which shot up two engines and destroyed controls to the
tail. Harris was last seen in the pilot's seat, attempting to hold the
plane level while he crew bailed out. Four of Harris' crew safely bailed
out and became POW's. Six went down with the aircraft, including Harris.
|
|
 |
WILBUR D. HART 1Lt Wilbur D. Hart, 4th
Information and Historical Service, Ninth Army, was killed in action 10
January. 1945, near Weisweiler, Germany. The role of the Information and
Historical Services is described as follows:
Several hundred soldierhistorians advanced the Army's historical
effort. Their primary focus was the creation and preservation of
written documentation, but interviews were used to complement those
sources. Historians attached to higher headquarters, as well as
members of the Information and Historical Service teams of field
armies, moved freely about the battle lines to gather interviews.
The collection process occasionally began while units were still in
action, but the majority of interviews were conducted about a week
to ten days after the action or sometimes even later. After
interviewing an individual, part of a unit, or the entire unit, the
historians would summarize their interview notes to create a
narrative of the specific action.
Historians conducted interviews as close to the actual battlefield
as possible in order to stimulate a soldier's recall of events. ...
The historian's search for information was not always easy. Although
not considered "combat" soldiers, three historians were killed in
the line of duty and two others wounded by mines while
interviewing frontline troops in the European Theater.
---From Stephen E. Everett, Oral
History Techniques and Procedures (Center of Military History,
United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1992)
Hart was from Commerce, Texas. Initially buried at Margraten
Cemetery, his remains were returned home in 1948. He now rests in
Oak Lawn Cemetery, Cooper, Texas.
|
|

|
JOHN B. HARVEY
2nd Lt. Harvey was KIA 1 April 1944 while serving with 567th Bomb
Sq., 369th Bomb Group. On that date Lt. Harvey was the bombardier aboard
B-24J SN 42-99977 on a mission to Ludwigschafen, Germany. At
approximately 1100 hours over the target the plane took a direct hit from
flak and exploded in midair. One crewman parachuted to safety.
Harvey
was originally buried in the civilian cemetery at Bodersweier Kreis Kehl,
Baden, Germany. His permanent burial place is the US Military Cemetery,
St. Avold, France. He was from Borger, Texas.
|
|



Henry's P-51B |
LLOYD F. HENRY 2nd Lieutenant Lloyd F. Henry
flew with the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group. Henry was lost
on 18 April 1944 while flying P-51B 43-6579 named "S.N.A.F.U."
On that date, the 4th Fighter Group, led by Col. Blakeslee, flew a
Penetration, Target, and Withdrawal Support mission to Berlin. After
engaging 25+ Me 109's and FW 190s as they attempted to attack the
bombers, the Group then strafed Juterborg A/D and Fassberg A/D. In the
course of this engagement, the 4th Fighter Group sustained three
casualties (2 KIA and 1 POW), including Lt. Henry.
Initially buried in
Neuville-En-Condroz Cemetery, Leige, Belgium, his remains were later
repatriated to a private cemetery in Indiana. Henry was a resident of
Indianapolis, Indiana. |
|


|
LEE A. HODSON
Tec4 Hodson, 90th Signal Company, 90th Division, was killed in
action 1 April 1945 near Rodenbach, Germany.
His Silver Star citation
reads:
While transporting his radio to the rear in a vehicle, Technician
Fourth Grade Hodson encountered elements of an enemy division. In
a desperate effort to prevent his equipment from falling into enemy
hands, he opened fire upon the troops. The hostile forces closed
in on him, but he continued the firefight until he was mortally wounded.
Hodson is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten,
Holland. |
|


|
JAMES T. HOKE
Pfc. James T. Hoke served with Co. M, 359th Infantry
Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. Hoke is officially listed as missing in
action on D-Day, June 6, 1944. On that day his regiment was attached to
the 4th Infantry Division for the D-Day landings. Official records show
that Hoke was listed as lightly wounded in action, and was told to remain
on the beach for treatment by advancing medics. It was assumed that Hoke
was later hit by artillery or mortar fire.
Hoke was from Huntsville, TX and is memorialized on the Tablets
of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery. |
|


The USS Cobia is now a National
Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, WI

Plaque to Houston aboard the Cobia

Houston's gun position showing location of
plaque

|
RALPH C. HUSTON, JR.
S1c Huston served aboard the USS Cobia,
SS-245. On 26 February 1945 the Cobia was involved in a surface
action against Japanese sea trucks. During the action the submarine was
strafed by Japanese machine gun fire, killing Seaman Huston, who was
manning a .50 cal. machine gun. S1c Huston was buried at sea the
following day.
Huston was from Parkersburg, WV.
|
|


Katoniks grave at All Saints Braddock Cemetery,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


Pvt. Katonik is memorialized on the Waal River Crossing
monument in Nijmegen, Holland |
PAUL J. KATONIK
Paul J. Katonik was born
22 January 1918. He was inducted into service on 2 December 1943 in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served with HQ/3, 504th PIR,
82nd Airborne
Division.
On 20 September 1944 the
Third Battalion of the 504th PIR
was tasked with making an amphibious crossing of the Waal River in
Nijmegen, Holland, in an attempt to encircle German forces holding the
Nijmegen railway bridge.
At 1500 hours,
approximately 280 men, led by Third Battalion commander Maj. Julian
Cook, launched 26 plywood and canvas boats from the southern shore of
the Waal River. After
reaching the middle of the 400 yard wide river they were exposed to
withering 20mm, 88mm, and small arms fire from the German defenders on
the far shore.
This first wave of
assault troops suffered over 50% casualties, including 43 soldiers who
were killed in action (Katonik being among that number). Only 11 boats
were seaworthy enough to return to the southern shore to reload for the
second assault wave.
This river crossing was
graphically depicted the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far, with Robert
Redford playing the role of Maj. Julian Cook.
Katonik was initially
buried in Holenhoek Cemetery,
Nijmegen, Holland. His remains were later repatriated to All Saints
Braddock Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA.
|
|




|
ROSS L. KENDLE
Sgt. Kendle was killed in action on D-Day, June 6, 1944 on during the
first wave at Dog Green Sector, Omaha beach. Sgt. Kendle served with Co.
B, 743rd Tank Bn. His unit was one of the only companies of DD tanks to
land on the beach ahead of the incoming infantry troops.
Kendle is
buried at the US Military Cemetery, St. Laurent, France. He was from
Council Grove, Kansas.
|
|

|
LOUIS J. KULP
S/Sgt Kulp, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division,
was KIA June 12, 1944 in the battle for Carentan.
Kulp was from
Frankfort, Kentucky and is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, St
Laurent, France |
|


|
FRANKLIN G. KYRKLUND
S1c Kyrklund was serving aboard the USS Franklin on March 19, 1945
when the aircraft carrier was struck by Japanese bombs off the coast of
Japan. The Franklin sustained 724 KIA's and 265 WIA's in the
attack.
Kyrklund was from San Diego, California. |
|

|
HARRY E. LAIN
SSgt. Harry E. Lain served with the 449th Bomb Group,
716th Bomb Squadron. On May 24, 1944 Lain was serving as the tail gunner aboard
B-24 serial number 42-52243, named Shamrock. While over the
target at Wiener-Neustadt the group encountered intense, heavy and
accurate flak. Shamrock was hit in the bomb bay over the target.
Lain was last seen with severe burns and on fire due to the flak
explosion. The crew suffered six crewmen POW and 4 KIA, including Lain.
Lain was from Rochester, NY. |
|

|
LAURENCE H. LANE
Pfc.
Laurence H. Lane served with the 41st Quartermaster Co, 41st Division. He
was KIA/MIA on May 29, 1944 when his supply dump was struck by Japanese
bombers on Biak Island, New Guinea.
Lane was
from Los Angeles, California. |
|

|
WALTER H. LANE
Pfc. Lane
served with Co. C., 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division and was
KIA 31 January 1943 near Djebel Keurn er Rhezala, Tunisia.
He is
interred in the North African American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia.
Lane was from Vergennes, Vermont.
|
|
 The only known photo of
the Skill, taken while under
construction.
 Location of sinking. The USS Skill is
now a popular dive location off the
coast of Italy.

|
RICHARD J. LARDIE
MM3c
Lardie, USNR, was MIA presumed KIA when the minesweeper USS Skill was sunk on 25 September 1943 by the
German U-Boat U-593 off Salerno, Italy.
The USS Skill (AM-115) was laid down on 28 November 1941
by American Shipbuilding Co. of Cleveland, Ohio; launched on 22 June 1942;
and placed in service on 17 November 1942, Lt.
Comdr. E. J. Kevern, USNR, in command.
After a brief shakedown cruise, Skill was ordered
to the Mediterranean Sea where she swept mines and performed other
mine-warfare countermeasures along the North African coast before the
invasion there. After the initial invasion at Salerno, Italy, she was
assigned patrol and convoy duty in that area. She returned to the area
from escort duty on 25 September 1943 and was assigned a patrol station.
At 1140, not long after she had taken station, her forward magazine
exploded. This was probably due to a submarine's torpedo because a
survivor, whose station was on the bridge, later reported having seen a
wake of undetermined origin paralleling the ship at a distance of about 150 yards.
Skill was blown in half and the forward section
capsized. The after half caught fire, and the flames moved aft until that
section exploded and sank at about 1200. Ten minutes later, the capsized
bow slipped beneath the waves. Of her 103 officers and men, none of the
officers and only 32 of the men survived.
Lardie was
from Northville, Michigan. |
|



|
GRAYSON B. LASSITER
PhM3c
Grayson Blackwell Lassiter, USNR, served with 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine
Regiment, 5th Marine Division. On March 1, 1945 Lassiter was
severely wounded on Iwo Jima. He died aboard a hospital ship 3 days
later. Included in the group is a United Daughters of the Confederacy
posthumously awarded Cross For Military Service. Lassiter was from
Portsmouth, Virginia.
Lassiter's
grandfather, T. Augustus Lacy, served with Company I, 1st Virginia
Infantry during the Civil War. Lacy's United Confederate Veterans
Southern Cross of Honor is shown on the left.
For
additional photos of this group, follow this link. |
|



|
RALPH E. LOUNSBURY JR.
Lieutenant
Commander Lounsbury was Commanding Officer of the USS
Dickerson (APD-21).
Dickerson (DD-167), a Wickes Class destroyer, was
launched in 1919. In 1943 she was converted into a high speed attack
transport (APD) and given the new designation APD-21.
Dickerson was
southwest of Okinawa on the night of 2 April 1945 when the Japanese
attacked in strength. One of the kamikaze planes approached the destroyer
in a long, low glide, and slashed off the tops of her two stacks before
smashing into the base of her bridge, toppling her mast and starting
intense gasoline fires. Almost simultaneously another plane scored a
direct hit on the center of her forecastle. The explosion tore a hole in
the deck almost the complete width of the ship. Despite immediate fire and
damage control measures, Dickerson's crew was forced to abandon ship when
the raging fires threatened her forward magazine.
Fifty-four officers and men, including LCDR
Lounsbury, were lost. The USS Bunch (APD-79)
and USS Herbert (APD-22) stood by to rescue
survivors, and Bunch succeeded in putting out
the fires which had virtually demolished Dickerson. The smoldering hulk was towed to
Kerama Retto, then was towed out to sea and sunk on 4 April 1945.
Lounsbury is officially listed as missing in
action. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu
Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
|
|

|
PAUL E. McCLUSKEY
2nd Lt.
McCluskey was a pilot with the 359th Fighter Sq., 369th Fighter Group, and
was MIA presumed KIA while flying P-51C Ser No 42-103743 on 10 August 1944
on a bombing mission near Wingen-Sur-Moder, France.
McCluskey
was from Edgerton, Kansas |
|

|
WILLIAM E. McCRORY
Pvt.
William E. McCrory, Co. B, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st
Airborne Division, was KIA 6 June, 1944 during the initial drop on
D-Day.
Initially
interred in Heisville Cemetery, he was later reinterred at Normandy
American Cemetery, St. Laurent, France. McCrory was from San Jose,
CA |
|

|
FRANK MANSKI JR.
Pvt Manski
served with Co. B, 298th Engineer Combat Bn, and was KIA by a gun shot
wound to the chest on 30 September 1944. At that time the 298th Eng.
Combat Bn. was attached to the 9th Division and was holding front line
positions in the Huertgen Forest.
Manski was
from Pittsburg, PA. |
|

|
ROY K. MARIN
MoMM2c
Marin served aboard the submarine USS
Bullhead, and was declared missing presumed dead when the Bullhead failed to return from its last war
patrol. While the fate of the boat was never known, Japanese reports
indicate an unknown submarine was sunk in the Java Sea on 6 August 1945.
The Bullhead was the last US submarine sunk during WWII.
Marin was
from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is memorialized
on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila,
Philippines
May 2006 update: Roy Marin's Purple Heart has
been returned to his family. His family has requested that I keep the
photo and story of Roy on my web page, to honor a submariner who remains
on eternal patrol.
|
|

|
FREDERICK H. MARSHALL
P-51 pilot
2nd Lt. Marshall served with the 26th Fighter Sq., 51st Fighter Group and
was KIA 26 March 1945 when his aircraft was shot down over Wu Chang,
China.
His
remains were never recovered. Marshall was from Bethany,
CT. |
 |
EDWARD H. MARTYNOWSKI
Tec5
Martynowski was part of the Medical Det., 262nd Infantry, 66th Division.
He was aboard the troopship SS Leopoldville on
24 December 1944 when the ship was sunk off the coast of France by German
U-Boat U-486.
On
Christmas Eve 1944, German U-Boats were trying to prevent Allied
reinforcements from reaching the scene of "The Battle of the Bulge." The
66th Infantry Division was one group headed for this battle.
At 6:00 PM
on Christmas Eve, a torpedo exploded into the starboard aft hold of the
transport ship SS Leopoldville, packed with
2235 GI's from the Division. The ship remained afloat for 2 1/2 hours
before sinking into the English Channel 5 miles north of Cherbourg,
France.
Because of
the holiday celebrations, rescue help was slow in coming to the ship. When
rescue ships arrived while the ship was taking on sea water, many
different scenarios developed around victims and survivors. Approximately
516 were GI's were missing and presumably went down with the ship, and
another 248 died from injuries, drowning, or hypothermia from the 48
degree water.
The huge
loss of life proved embarrassing to the governments of France, England,
Belgium, and the US. Wartime security kept the tragedy details buried for
fifty years. Many families of the 764 victims and the 1,471 survivors
never learned the details about the Christmas death of their sons.
Martynowski was from Philadelphia, PA.
|
|


USS Halsey Powell being struck by a Japanese
kamikaze aircraft |
LEON W. MAZANEK Water Tender First Class Mazanek
served aboard the destroyer USS Halsey Powell (DD-686). On March 20,
1945 the Halsey Powell was being refueled along side the USS Hancock
(CV-19), when a kamikaze aircraft overshot the Hancock and struck
Halsey Powell in the fantail, resulting in 12 fatalities and over 30
wounded.
WT1c Mazanek was buried at sea. He is memorialized on the
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu,
Hawaii. Mazanek was from Amsterdam, New York. |
|
Merrill is pictured on lower left
|
CHARLES W. MERRILL
S/Sgt.
Charles W. Merrill served with the 723rd Bomb Squadron, 450th Bomb Group,
and was KIA 3 March 1944, as his B-24, "Maggie Zass," crashed during take
off from their base at Manduria, Italy, The pilot attempted to abort the
take off half-way down the runway. Eyewitness accounts relate that
observers saw the aircraft in a nose-down attitude with wheel brakes
smoking. However, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft in time, and
it ran off the runway, setting off 5000 pounds of bombs and a full load of
aviation gas, killing the entire crew. Merrill was from Alameda,
CA.
Merrill
served with S/Sgt. William E. Harrelson Jr., And S/Sgt. John E. Sullivan,
who were also killed in the same accident. See their groupings
on this page. |
|

 Splashes from Japanese shells bracket
the Gambier Bay
|
GEORGE MILLER
PhoM2c
George Miller was MIA presumed KIA on 25 Oct 1944 when the escort carrier
USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) was sunk by Japanese
naval gunfire during the Battle of off Samar. The Gambier Bay was the only US carrier to be sunk by
gunfire during WWII.
Miller was
from Detroit, Michigan |
|


|
ROBERT P. MILLER
Pvt.
Robert P. Miller served with Co. G, 362nd Inf. Regt., 91st Division and
was KIA 23 April 1945 near Vecima, Italy of a shell fragment wound to the
head.
He was
originally interred in the US Cemetery at Mirandola, Italy. His
remains were later repatriated to Farmers Institute Cemetery in his home
town of Lafayette, Indiana. |
|
 USS Hoel
 Minard with his
cousin Elinor in 1944
 Elinor pointing to
Minard's name on the USS Hoel
memorial
|
JIMMIE MINARD
Seaman
First Class Jimmie Minard was a crewmember aboard the USS Hoel, which was attached to "Taffy 3"
(Escort Carrier Task Unit 77.4.3)
At dawn of
25 October 1944 "Taffy 3" was steaming northeast off Samar operating as
the Northern Air Support Group in support of the Army's invasion of Leytr
Gulf. At 06:45 'Taffy 3's" lookouts observed flashes on the northerly
horizon and within 3 minutes were under heavy fire from the IJN's Center
Force of 4 battleships, 6 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, and 11
destroyers.
Hoel and her fellow destroyers Johnston and Heermann, worked feverishly to lay
down a smoke
screen to hide their escort carriers from the overwhelmingly superior
enemy ships. Admiral Clifton Sprague ordered his destroyers to attack the
Japanese with torpedoes. Hoel instantly obeyed
this order by heading straight for the nearest enemy battleship, Kongo. When she had closed to 14,000 yards she
opened fire as she continued her race toward the smoking muzzles of Kongo's 14 inch guns. A hit on her bridge
which knocked out all voice radio communication did not deflect her from
her course toward the enemy until she had launched a half salvo of
torpedoes at a range of 9,000 yards. Although Hoel torpedoes all failed to strike their target,
they caused Kongo to lose ground in her
pursuit of the carriers by forcing her to turn sharply left and to
continue to move away from her quarry until they had run their course.
Minutes later Hoel suffered hits which knocked
out three of her guns, stopped her port engine, and damaged her fire
control director, radar, and bridge steering control. Hoel then engaged the column of IJN heavy
cruisers. When she had closed to within 6,000 yards of the leading
cruiser, Haguro, Hoel launched a half-salvo of torpedoes which ran
"hot, straight and normal." This time she was rewarded by the sight of
large columns of water which rose from her target.
During the
next hour the ship attempted to draw enemy fire to herself and away from
the carriers. In the process of fishtailing and chasing salvos she
peppered them with her two remaining guns. Finally at 08:30, after
withstanding over 40 hits, an 8 inch shell stilled her remaining
engine. With her engine room under water, her No. 1 magazine ablaze,
and the ship listing heavily to port and settling by the stern, Hoel's captain, ordered his crew to "prepare to
abandon ship." The Japanese fire at the ship continued as her surviving
officers and men went over the side and only stopped at 08:55 when Hoel rolled over and sank in 4,000
fathoms.
Only 86 of
Hoel's complement survived while 253 officers
and men died with their ship.
|
|


 The USS
Suwannee

|
ROBERT L MINOR
Ship's
Cook 2c Robert Minor served aboard the escort carrier USS Suwanee. Just after noon on October 26,
1944, a group of kamikazes jumped escort carrier group "Taffy 1" off
Samar, Philippines. A "Zeke" crashed Suwannee's flight deck and careened into a
torpedo bomber which had just been recovered. The two planes erupted upon
contact as did nine other planes on her flight deck. Minor was blown
overboard in the explosion. His remains were never recovered.
Minor was
from Cincinnati, Ohio. |
|

|
MICHAEL MODRAK
Pfc.
Modrak served with Co. K, 362nd Infantry Regiment, 91st Division and was
KIA 16 July 1944 near Cecina, Italy. Image shows aluminum coffin tag used
for identification during repatriation of remains to the US. Also shown is
the original dog tag which was attached to his wooden cross during initial
burial in Follonica, Italy.
Modrak was
from Wilkes-Barre, PA. He is buried at St. Mary's Greek Catholic Cemetery
in Dallas, PA. |
|
The
USS Samuel B. Roberts
|
WILLIAM C. MORT
WT3c Mort
served aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts and
was KIA 25 October 1944 when his ship was sunk by Japanese Naval gunfire
in the Battle off Samar.
Shortly after dawn on 25 October 1944, Samuel B. Roberts was protecting American escort
carriers off Samar, when a Japanese task force suddenly appeared on the
horizon and opened fire. After joining in a daring torpedo attack on the
Japanese cruisers and scoring a torpedo hit on one and at least 40 gunfire
hits on a second, Samuel B. Roberts was hit by
a salvo of 14 inch shells which tore a hole 40 feet long and 10 feet wide
in the port side of her No. 2 engine room. The ship was abandoned and soon
sank. The 120 survivors clung to 3 life rafts for 50 hours before being
rescued.
Mort was
from Detroit, Michigan. |
|

|
ROBERT E. MURPHY
Major
Robert E. Murphy, Commanding Officer, 559th Bomb Squadron, 387th Bomb
Group (M). Maj. Murphy was killed at St Quentin, France on December
9, 1944. When a returning aircraft crashed after recall, Maj. Murphy along
with many others attempted to rescue crewmembers from the burning
aircraft. During the course of the rescue efforts, the bomb load
cooked off and exploded, killing 33 of the rescue workers, including Major
Murphy.
Murphy was
from Los Angeles, CA |
|

|
PAUL W. PADGETT
TSgt.
Padgett, 97th Bomb Sq., 341st Bomb Group, was KIA 17 November 1942, when
his B-17 crashed in the Bay of Biscay while en route from England to North
Africa due to engine failure. Aboard the aircraft was Brigadier General
Asa Duncan, the first commander of the 8th Air Force.
Padgett was from Fairmount,
Georgia. |
|

|
ROBERT M. PARKER
Yeoman 3rd
Class Parker was aboard the USS Belknap
(APD-34) on January 11, 1945 when the destroyer was struck by a Japanese
kamikaze aircraft in Lingayen Gulf. He is listed as missing in
action.
Belknap arrived in the
Pacific during September 1944. During 18-22 October she served as a screen
ship during the Leyte invasion and during 3-11 January 1945 as a shore
bombardment and beach reconnaissance vessel for the the Lingayen Gulf,
Luzon, landings. On 11 January she was stuck by a Japanese kamikaze which
crashed into Belknap's number two stack,
crippling her engines, killing 7 men and wounding 49. Belknap remained at Lingayen making emergency
repairs until 18 January when Hidatsa (ATF-102)
towed her to Manus, Admiralty Islands. Following temporary repairs at
Manus, Belknap proceeded to Philadelphia Navy
Yard via the west coast, arriving 18 June. Decommissioned 4 August 1945,
Belknap was sold 30 November 1945 for
scrapping.
Parker was
from Boston, Massachusetts
|
|

|
JAMES C. PETERSEN
Pvt.
Petersen served with the 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division and was
KIA 10 September 1944 during the division's all-out assault on Brest,
France.
Petersen was from Oakland, CA. |
|

|
RICHARD R. POETON
1st Lt.
Poeton, 345th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter Group, was flying P-47 ser #
42-75000 when his aircraft was shot down by flak on April 16, 1945 near
Vergato, Italy.
Poeton was
from Lynnfield, Massachusetts, and rests in Willow Cemetery in that
town.
|
|

The
USS Edsall
|
WALTER R. PROUTY
CTM Walter
R. Prouty, USN was MIA presumed KIA on 1 March 1942 when the destroyer USS Edsall (DD-219) was sunk by the Japanese
battleships Hiei and Kirishima during the Battle of the Java Sea.
Prouty was
from Rockland, Massachusetts. |
|

|
ERNEST RIVERA
S/Sgt.
Rivera, 528th Bomb Sq., 380th Bomb Group, was KIA 21 November 1943 when
his B-24, named "Black Widow," was shot down on a bombing mission over
Manokwari Harbor, New Guinea. While over the target his formation
encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire. Rivera's plane was seen to
drop out of formation with heavy damage to the nose of the craft,
continuing to lose altitude rapidly until is was seen to strike the
ground.
Rivera is
listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila,
Philippines. He was from New York City. |
|


The USS Indianapolis,
photographed 20 days before her sinking.
|
JACK A. ROLAND
Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class Jack A. Roland served
aboard the cruiser USS Indianapolis when the
cruiser was sunk on the early morning of July 30, 1945.
After
delivering the first atomic bomb to Tinian Island, the cruiser was ordered
to report to Leyte Gulf. At
0012 hours Indianapolis was torpedoed by the
IJN submarine I-58 in the Philippine Sea and
sank in 12 minutes. Of 1198 men on board, approximately 300 went down with
the ship. The remainder were left
floating in shark-infested waters with no lifeboats and no food or water.
The ship was never reported missing, and by the time the survivors were
spotted by accident four days later only 316 men were left
alive.
Roland is
memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery,
Manila, Philippines. He was from Crawford, Georgia. |
|

|
WINTHROP A. RUSSELL
Sgt.
Russell was KIA 29 April 1943 while serving with the 16th Inf. Regt., 1st
Division during the 1st Divisions final assault on Tunis.
Russell is
buried at the North African American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.
He was from Norfolk County, Massachusetts |
|


The USS
Hoel

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RAY T. SANTILLI
RdM2c
Santilli was KIA October 25, 1944, aboard the USS
Hoel, when the destroyer was sunk by Japanese gunfire in the Battle
off Samar.
Santilli
was from Portland, Oregon |
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ALFRED SCARDIGLI
2nd LT
Alfred Scardigli served with Co. C, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry
Division. Lt. Scardigli was killed on December 27, 1944, during the
Battle of the Bulge, as the 5th Division was pushing back the southern
salient.
Scardigli
was from San Francisco, CA. He is buried in Luxembourg American
Cemetery. |
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OCTAVE A. SHADELL
Tec4
Shadell served with Co. C., 14th Tank Battalion, 9th Armored Division and
was KIA 11 April 1945, as the division spearheaded a drive to the Saale
River.
Shadell
was from Des Allemands, LA |
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HERBERT E. SHAFER
T/Sgt Shafer served with the 704th Bomb
Squadron, 446th Bomb Group (H), as a Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner.
He was KIA 23 May 1944 aboard B-24H 42-7583 Wee Willie on mission to Orleans, France when the
bombardier attempted to drop bombs through closed bomb bay doors. A piece
of the broken doors struck the tail, forcing the aircraft into an
uncontrollable spin. All 10 crewmembers were killed.
For
additional photos of this group follow this link.
Shafer is
buried at Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France.
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The
USAT Dorchester
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JAMES J. SHEA
Pvt. Shea,
Medical Dept., was KIA 3 February 1943 when the troopship USAT Dorchester was torpedoed off
Greenland. This action was made famous by the story of the "four
chaplains," who gave up their life jackets to allow others to jump into
the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
Shea was
from Suffolk County, Massachusetts. |
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EUGENE L. SIEBEN
Pvt.
Sieben was KIA 17 June, 1944 while serving with the Medical Detachment,
39th Infantry, 9th Division. On that date the 39th Infantry was advancing
north in the Carentan Peninsula toward Cherbourg. They were opposed by the
German 77th Division.
Pvt.
Sieben was awarded the Silver Star for actions in Sicily. His Silver
Star Citation reads:
For gallantry in action in
the vicinity of Troina, Sicily, 4 August 1943. Observing a seriously
wounded man lying exposed to intense enemy machine gun fire, Private
Siebein [sic] left his place of cover and
proceeded to the injured man's aid. His courageous behavior undoubtedly
saved the man's life.
Sieben was
from Jackson County, Missouri
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ROBERT A. SIMPSON Pfc. Simpson served with Co. C,
143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on
January 19, 1944 by a German sniper as his regiment was preparing for the
ill-fated attempt to cross the Rapido River the following day.
Simpson was from Los Angeles, California. He is buried at Golden
Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
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ALBERT A. SPACIL
S/Sgt
Albert A. Spacil served as a ball turret gunner with the 571st Bomb
Squadron, 390th Bomb Group. He was KIA 8 September 1944, aboard the B-17G
serial number 42-97821 "Chaff Wagon" while
on a bombing mission to Mainz, Germany.
Spacil's aircraft exploded in mid-air after taking a direct hit by flak.
Spacil was
from Harris County, Texas.
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GLENDON L. SPRIGGS
Glendon
Spriggs served with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne
Division, and was KIA 29 April 1945, during the Division's crossing of the
Elbe River.
Spriggs
was from Stark County, Ohio. |
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The USS
Jarvis

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JACK C. STARR
S2c Jack
C. Starr served aboard the destroyer USS
Jarvis. While in operations off the coast of Guadalcanal the USS Jarvis was struck by a Japanese
torpedo. Severely damaged, she was ordered to a repair facility in
New Caledonia, thus barely missing the Battle of Savo Island.
Unfortunately, while steaming towards her repair facility, the Jarvis was spotted by Japanese aircraft.
She was mistaken for an escaping cruiser, and was attacked and sunk on
August 9, 1942, all hands being lost.
Starr was
from Portland, Oregon |
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ROBERT N. STEPHENS
Pvt.
Stephens served with Co K, 320th Inf., 35th Division and died of wounds on
10 November 1944 in the 12th Evacuation Hospital, Nancy, France of
shrapnel wounds to the head and chest.
Stephens
was initially buried at the US Military Cemetery, Limey, France. Stephens
was from Lynn, Massachusetts, and rests in Pine Grove Cemetery in that
town. |
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 Sullivan is standing in the
back row, center
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JOHN E. SULLIVAN
S/Sgt.
John E. Sullivan served with the 723rd Bomb Squadron, 450th Bomb Group,
and was KIA 3 March 1944, as his B-24, "Maggie Zass," crashed during take
off from their base at Manduria, Italy, The pilot attempted to abort the
take off half-way down the runway. Eyewitness accounts relate that
observers saw the aircraft in a nose-down attitude with wheel brakes
smoking. However, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft in time, and
it ran off the runway, setting off 5000 pounds of bombs and a full load of
aviation gas, killing the entire crew
Sullivan
served with S/Sgt. Charles W. Merrill, and S/Sgt William E. Harrelson, who
were also killed in the same accident. See their groupings
above. |
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JOSEPH A. TANNER
Pfc.
Tanner served with Co. L, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Div and was KIA 19
March 1945 during the expansion of the Remagen bridgehead over the Rhine
River.
Tanner was
from Gainesville, Texas. |
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RICHARD F. TASKER
2nd Lt.
Tasker served with the 359 Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group (H). On
January 21, 1945, while on a mission to Aschaffenburg, Germany, Tasker's
B-17 "Scorchy II" was involved in a mid-air collision over the
target. Both A/C crashed near Lossburg, Germany.
Tasker was
from New Bedford, MA. He is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in that
town. |
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The USS
Kete
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KEITH THORN
Gunner's
Mate 3rd Class Keith Thorn served aboard the submarine USS Kete. While on her second War Patrol, the Kete reported
having sunk three medium sized
freighters on March 10, 1945 and firing four torpedoes at another target
on March 14th.
Due
to the fact she had only three torpedoes remaining, the Kete was ordered to depart her area on March
20th, and proceed to Midway. On March 19th, she acknowledged receipt of
these orders. On March 20th she sent in a special weather report. This was
the last message received from her. At normal cruising speed she should
have arrived at Midway about March 31, 1945. When she was neither sighted
nor heard from by April 16, 1945, she was reported as presumed lost.
It is
known that a number of enemy submarines were in the area through which the
Kete was required to pass en route to Midway.
The IJN submarine RO-41 was sunk east of
Okinawa by an U.S. destroyer on March 23, 1945, and two other Japanese
submarines were sunk southeast of Okinawa near this date. Naval historians
suggest that one of these submarines might have torpedoed and sunk
her and been unable to report the attack before being sunk herself.
Thorn was
from Hastings, Nebraska. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing
at the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii |
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FREDERICK W. TOD
1st
Lieutenant Frederick W. Tod served with the 713th Bomb Squadron, 448th
Bomb Group and was KIA March 25, 1945 aboard B-24J, #44-10517, "Eager
One"
While on a
bombing mission to Buchen, Germany, 1st LT Tod's aircraft was severely
damaged by 4 ME-262 jet aircraft. Unable to return to England due to
the extensive damage, Tod attempted to fly his aircraft to neutral Sweden
on three engines. Within a mile of the Swedish coast another engine failed
and the remaining two began to run wild. Rather than fly overland with the
possibility of the aircraft hitting a populated area, Tod maneuvered the
aircraft along the coast, holding the plane in the air while his crew
bailed out. Unable to stay in the air any longer, the B-24 spun into the
sea off Falsterbo.
His Silver
Star citation reads:
For gallantry in action on 25 March 1945,
while flying as a pilot of a B-24 bomber on a mission over Germany. When
his aircraft sustained severe damage from intense enemy antiaircraft
fire, forcing him to withdraw from formation, Lieutenant Tod set his
course for allied territory. Ordering his crew to bail out over a
heavily populated area, Lieutenant Tod, with complete knowledge of the
consequences, then headed his plane back to sea where he was unable to
bail out due to the low altitude at which he was flying. His self
sacrifice and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the
Armed Forces of the United States.
Tod was
initially reported as missing in action, until his remains washed up on
shore 51 days later. He was initially buried with full military
honors in Malmo, Sweden. His remains were later permanently interred
in Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm. Luxembourg. Tod was from Long
Beach, California.
For
additional images of this group, please follow this link.
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STANLEY H.
TUCKER
Pfc. Tucker served with HQ Company, 513th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. He was killed
in action on 7 January 1945, as the 513th PIR was attempting to clear
German troops from the west of Bastogne. His Bronze Star citation
reads:
For heroic action against the enemy at ****, ****,
on 7
January 1945. Although Private Tucker's job was not that of manning a
bazooka, he volunteered as an assistant bazooka gunner to help meet an
enemy armored attack. While engaged in a duel with a tank, Private
Tucker was killed by tank fire. His actions were clearly above and
beyond the call of duty and in keeping with the highest traditions of
the armed forces.
Tucker was
from Portland Oregon. He is permanently interred at Luxembourg
American Cemetery, Hamm, Luxembourg
For
additional photos of Tucker's group, follow this link.
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DOUGLAS VAUGHN
Pfc.
Douglas Vaughn, 44th Surgical Hospital, was MIA presumed KIA on 27
November 1943 when his troopship, HMT Rhona,
was sunk off Tunisia.
The British
troopship HMT Rohna was lost off North Africa
with the deaths of 1,138 people on 26th November 1943. The 8,602-ton Rohna had departed from Oran, Algeria bound for
Bombay, India via the Suez Canal, carrying a total of 2,193 (1,988
American troops, 198 crew and 7 Red Cross workers). The Rohna was one of 24 ships of Convoy KMF-26.
A "smart"
bomb, which is
believed to have heralded the beginning of the missile age, was fired by a
German Heinkel 177. The ship exploded, caught fire and sank shortly
afterwards. A total of 1,138 people died (1,015 American troops, 120 crew
and 3 Red Cross workers). Because of the severity of the loss, the
disaster was covered up for the rest of the war and information was only
released years later after pressure from the Freedom of Information
Act.
Vaughn was
from Floyd County, Kentucky. |
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LEONARD R. VODICKA
S/Sgt.
Vodicka was a ball turret gunner aboard B-17G serving with the 352nd Bomb
Squadron, 301st Bomb Group. On 26 July 1944 he was on a bombing
mission to Wiener Neudorf A/C factory, Austria. Attacked by German
fighters, another B-17 went out of control, ramming Sgt. Vodicka's
aircraft, slicing it in two. No chutes were seen to open.
Vodicka
was from Chicago, Illinois.
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SAMUEL L. WATFORD
Officer's
Steward First Class was aboard the USS Juneau
on November 13, 1942, when it was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Watford is
listed as missing in action.
On 8 November 1942 Juneau departed Nouméa, New Caledonia, as a unit
of Task Force 67 to escort reinforcements to Guadalcanal. The force
arrived there early morning 12 November, and Juneau took up her station in the protective
screen around the transports and cargo vessels. Unloading proceeded
unmolested until 1405 when 30 Japanese planes attacked the alerted United
States group. The AA fire was effective, and Juneau alone accounted for six enemy torpedo
planes shot down. The few remaining attackers were then attacked by
American fighters; only one bomber escaped. Later in the day an American
attack group of cruisers and destroyers cleared Guadalcanal on reports
that a large enemy surface force was headed for the island. At 0148 on 13
November Rear Admiral D. J. Callaghan's relatively small Landing Support
Group engaged the enemy. The Japanese force consisted of two battleships,
one light cruiser, and nine destroyers.
Due to bad weather and confused communications,
the battle occurred in close to pitch darkness and at almost point-blank
range as the ships of the two sides intermingled with each other. During
the melee, Juneau was struck on the port side
by a torpedo causing a severe list, stopping her dead in the water, and
necessitating withdrawal. Before noon 13 November, Juneau, along with two other cruisers damaged in
the battle- Helena, and San Francisco, left the Guadalcanal area to
return to Espiritu Santo for repairs. Juneau
was steaming on one screw, keeping station 800 yards on the starboard
quarter of the likewise severely damaged San
Francisco (CA-38). She was down 12 feet by the bow, but able to
maintain 13 knots. A few minutes after 1100 three torpedoes were
launched from the IJN submarine I-26. Juneau successfully avoided two, but the third
struck her at the same point which had been damaged during the surface
action. There was a great explosion; Juneau
broke in two and disappeared in 20 seconds. Fearing more attacks from the
I-26, the Helena
and San Francisco continued on without
attempting to rescue survivors. Although the ship went down with heavy
loss of life, more than 100 survivors had survived the sinking. They were
left to fend on their own in the open ocean for eight days before rescue
aircraft belatedly arrived. While awaiting rescue, all but 10 died from
the elements and savage shark attacks, including Captain Swenson and the
two remaining Sullivan brothers. (The other three died as a direct result
of the 2nd torpedo.)
Watford
was from New York City.
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JOHN T. WEBB 1st Lieutenant John Tracy Webb
served with the 4th Chemical Company, Aviation, and was captured during the
fall of the Philippines.
Lt. Webb was killed on January 9, 1945, while being transported as a POW
aboard the Japanese ship Enoura Maru. On that date, the unmarked hell
ship Enoura Maru was struck by dive bombers operating from the USS
Hornet while anchored at Takao, Formosa. Approximately 350 prisoners were
killed in that attack, including Lt. Webb.
Webb was from Ironton, Ohio. He is memorialized on the Tablets of
the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
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 Two B-24's from the
392nd Bomb Group low over Holland on 9/18/44
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EVERETT H. WEISE
2nd
Lt. Everett H. Weise was a 20 mission veteran of the 579th Bomb Squadron,
392nd Bomb Group. On September 18, 1944, over 200 8th Air Force bombers
were assigned to drop supplies to the Airborne troops who had landed the
day before in Holland at the beginning of Operation Market Garden. C-47's,
which would otherwise carry out this duty, were being used for dropping
reinforcements along the Market Garden corridor.
The crews were assigned a
Quartermaster Corps dropmaster to fly with each aircraft, and the day
prior to the mission was spent practicing low-level supply drops over
England. The ball turrets on each bomber were removed to allow for one
more hole (called the "Joe hole") from which to drop supplies.
2nd Lt Weise was the
co-pilot aboard B-24 #42-50673. While approaching Eindhoven at less than
500 feet altitude, his aircraft began taking accurate flak and small arms
fire. When the bomb bay doors became jammed, and the #4 engine caught
fire, the pilot gave the bail out order. The pilot had to climb to 1000'
to give his crewmen enough altitude to bail out successfully.
Although Lt. Weise exited
the aircraft successfully, he apparently became tangled in his own shroud
lines and was strangled. Of the ten crewmen aboard the aircraft, five
evaded capture and were returned to England, two became POW's, and three
were KIA, including Lt. Weise.
Weise was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Originally
buried in Lichtaart, Belgium, his final resting place is in Ardennes
American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium |
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LeROY B. WENNEVOLD
Pvt.
Wennevold was KIA 8 November 1944 while serving with Co. A, 112th
Infantry, 28th Division in Kommerscheidt, Germany.
Wennevold
is permanently interred in Elmhurst Cemetery, Joliet,
Illinois. |
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CARL B. WESTERBERG
Pfc. Carl
B. Westerberg served with the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry
Division, and was KIA on June 15, 1944 in Normandy.
Westerberg
was from Burlington County, New Jersey. He is buried in the Normandy
American Cemetery in St. Laurent Sur Mer, France. |
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 The USS
Muskallunge

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CHARLES H. WHITMAN
EM3c
Whitman was KIA on 8 August 1945 while serving aboard the USS Muskallunge. On that date the submarine was
involved in a surface action against Japanese vessels. EM3c Whitman was
manning a .50 cal machine gun when a Japanese .30 caliber round struck his
gun and deflected upward into his brain.
He was
buried at sea off the Kurile Islands later that day. Whitman was from
Mayfield, New York. |
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ROBERT F. WILLARD
Hospital
Apprentice 1st Class Robert F. Willard served with Co. C, 5th Medical
Battalion, 5th Marine Division. He was killed in action 24 February 1945
while serving as a Marine corpsman on Iwo Jima.
Willard was from Billerica, MA. He was buried
at sea off Iwo. |
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TRUITT H. WILLIAMS
S/Sgt.
Truitt H. Williams served with the 68th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group. He
was killed in action on August 1, 1943, during the attack on the oil
refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Williams was a waist gunner aboard the
lead B-24, V Victory Ship, piloted by Capt.
John H. Diehl, Jr., and commanded by Lt. Col. James T. Posey. On
that day Posey's twenty-one aircraft were assigned to destroy "Blue
Target," the Creditul Minier refinery at Brazi. While on approach to the
target at treetop level, V Victory Ship was
hit by numerous 37mm rounds, which shot off part of the tail and mortally
wounded Williams.
Williams'
crewmembers attempted to put him in a parachute and drop him over Romania,
hoping he would receive medical treatment for his injuries. Williams died
before this could be completed. V Victory Ship
returned safely to Libya.
Truitt H.
Williams is buried at the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage,
Tunisia. In addition to the Purple Heart, he was also awarded a
Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal (location unknown). Williams was
from Amarillo, Texas.
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The
SS Steel Navigator

The USS
Yokes
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WILLIAM J. YOKES
S2c
William J. Yokes was part of the Navy Armed Guard detachment aboard the
merchant ship SS Steel Navigator. Yokes was
killed in action when the ship, a straggler from Convoy ON-137, was sunk
by the German U-Boat U-610 on October 19, 1942. Official records show that
Yokes was aboard the #3 lifeboat when it was capsized by the wake of the
sinking Steel Navigator. Yokes received a
posthumous commendation from the Chief of Naval Personnel, who cited the
seamen's "courageous and unfailing devotion to duty... fortitude, skill
and bravery" in conduct "in keeping with the highest traditions of the
naval service."
William John Yokes was born on 15 November 1918 in
Franklin, Pennsylvania. He enlisted on 3 January 1942 while living in
Youngstown, Ohio. After serving his training at USNTS Great Lakes and the
Armed Guard Training Center in Little Creek, Virginia, he was detached to
duty aboard the US Armed Merchant Vessel SS Steel Navigator on August
17, 1942.
On 22
August 1943 the Destroyer Escort USS Yokes was
laid down at Orange, Texas. She was reclassified and commissioned on
18 December 1944 as a high speed attack transport (ADP-69). The Yokes earned one battle star in WWII. She
was decommissioned in 1946 and later sold for scrap in
1965.
Research from original documents held at the
National Archives, National Personnel Records Center, indicate that Yoke's
widow received one Purple Heart in March 1944, while his mother received a
second Purple Heart in July 1946. |
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HERBERT L. ZILS
2nd LT
Herbert L. Zils served with the 69th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group.
On August 5, 1945 Zils was taking off from Madona Strip, Okinawa, in his
P-47D, serial number 44-90238. His engine lost power on takeoff, and
Zils attempted to get his aircraft off the ground. His left wingtip
hit the ground, setting off napalm tanks. His aircraft was completely
engulfed in flames and Zils was unable to be rescued from the burning
wreckage.
Zils was
from Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is permanently interred in the National Memorial
Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii |
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THOMAS F. ZINN
2nd Lt.
Zinn, F Co., 401st Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division was
KIA 27 September, 1944 near Grafwegen, Netherlands. While on patrol on
that date Zinn's patrol was hit by German machine gun fire. Zinn and
his Sergeant were killed instantly.
Buried
near the farmhouse where they fell, Zinn was later reinterred at
Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Holland. Zinn was from
Russell, Kentucky. |
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