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.

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

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.

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.
 

Zeke crashes into the USS St Lo flight deck.

Secondary explosions aboard the St. Lo.

The USS St. Lo, early 1944

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.

Warren W. Becker, Camp Mackall, ca. 1943

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.

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

Aerial strike photo of the Enoura Maru

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Fires aboard the USS Franklin, 3/19/45

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

S/Sgt Feuer served with the 337^th Bomb Squadron, 96^th 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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

USS Robalo

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

 

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

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.

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.  

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.

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.

Pvt. Katonik is memorialized on the Waal River Crossing monument in Nijmegen, Holland

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 
 

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The USS Jarvis

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

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.

Sullivan is standing in the back row, center

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.

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.

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.

The USS Kete

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Two B-24's from the 392nd Bomb Group low over Holland on 9/18/44

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

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.

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.

The USS Muskallunge

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.

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.

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.

The SS Steel Navigator

The USS 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.

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

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.