Rank and Name, Lieutenant Commander Charles Gordinier Steele.
Unit/Placed in, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) Carrier, United States Navy.
Charles is born on 16 Sep. 1910 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
Father, Henry Francis Steele.
Mother, May E. Gordinier Steele.
Charles enlisted the service in Illinois with service number # O-128843.
Charles was KIA when a 2 Japanese suicide plane damaged the U.S.S. Bunker Hill off the coast of Okinawa on 11 May 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Stars, WW II Victory Medal.
Charles is buried/mentioned at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu County, Hawaii U.S.A.
Courts of the missing.
Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Seabees History Bob Smith https://seabeehf.org/
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano
Navy Seal Memorial, http://www.navysealmemorials.com
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Medals Forum, https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/
WordPress en/of Wooncommerce oplossingen, https://www.siteklusjes.nl/
Military Recovery, https://www.dpaa.mil/
CITATION LEGION DE MERIT
“Flag Secretary and Aide to Vice-Admiral Mitscher on U.S.S. Bunker Hill.
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Legion of Merit posthumously to Lieutenant Commander Charles Cordinier Steele, United States Naval Reserve, for service as set forth in the following Citation : “For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Aide, Flag Secretary and Staff Watch Ofcer attached to the Staff of the Commander, First Carrier Task Force, embarked on the U.S.S. Bunker Hill, during combat operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific War Area, from December 20, 1944, to May 11, 1945. Undaunted by the savage tactics of a ruthless enemy, Lieutenant Commander Steele rendered invaluable assistance to his commanding off’ cer during the planning and execution of extended operations against the Japanese Empire, including the first Tokyo raids, support of the landings on Iwo Jima, strikes against Kyushu and the Kure Naval Base, support of landings on Okinawa and an engagement with major units of the Japanese Fleet on April 7, 1945. A brilliant administrator, Lieutenant Commander Steele, by his aggressive leadership, unfaltering professional skill and outstanding ability as Staff Watch Officer, contributed essentially to the success of these vital operations and by his zealous efforts and gallant conduct throughout a period of bold offensive operations, materially furthered the incursion of the First Carrier Task Force in the restricted waters off the coast of Japan. For the President, James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy”
The 2 Kamikaze planes were the Japanese,
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
The first Kamikaze plane was flown by, Lieutenant Junior Grade Seizō Yasunori,
And the Second Kamikaze plane was flown by, Ensign Kiyoshi Ogawa.
