Categorie: Places Unknown 1944

Rank and Name, Sergeant Enrique V. Baclig.

Unit/Placed in, 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts.

 

Enrique is born in the Philippines.

Parents and Siblings no record available.

 

Enrique enlisted the service in the Philippines with service number # 6737807.

 

Enrique was KIA noe record defending Philippine soil against the Japanese on 31 December 1944, he is honored with a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, Army & Air Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Enrique is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to, https://www.philippinescouts.org/

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Philppine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Joseph Bernhard Backus.

Unit/Placed in, USS Sangamon (CVE-26) Carrier (former Oiler), United States Naval Reserve.

 

Joseph is born approx. on no record.

 

Joseph enlisted the service in New York with service number # 6467944.

A returning fighter failed to hook a wire on landing, broke through the barriers, and crashed into parked planes on the forward flight deck. Its belly tank, torn loose, skidded forward, spewing flaming fuel. Fire soon spread among the planes.

When the fires were under control. Seven of the crew died in those eight minutes.

 

Joseph was died (above) on 25Jan. 1944, he is honored with a Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Joseph is buried/mentioned at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu County, Hawaii U.S.A.

Courts of the missing.

 

Thanks to, http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/026.htm

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com and 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

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

Rank and Name, Seaman Second Class Matthew Avery.

Unit/Placed in, USARS (United States Army Repair Ship) J.W. Connors, United States Coast Guard.

 

Matthew is born approx. on 7 Dec. 1923 in Alabama.

Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.

 

Matthew enlisted the service in Alabama with service number # 7004066.

 

Matthew died in an Accident (Fell overboard and drowned) on 23 Nov. 1944, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Matthew is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

He also has a Memorial Grave at Shadowlawn Memorial Park, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA.

 

Thanks to, https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USCG/V2-Transports/index.html

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

 

The Coast Guard manned Army repair ship W. J. Connors was commissioned at Portland, Oregon, on September 4, 1944, with Lt. Comdr. Adriaan Dezeeuw, USCG, as first commanding officer. The vessel had been taken over in May 1943 by the Army and had spent some time under Army command in the Aleutians. She sailed from Portland September 21, 1944, and proceeded to the Philippines then to Japan, stopping at Nagoya, Kobe and reaching Yokohama in September 1945, She returned to Seattle June 27, 1946, and was redelivered to the Maritime Commission June 16, 1947.

Rank and Name, Seaman First Class Henry Franklin Collier.

Unit/Placed in, USS Warrington (DD-383) Destroyer, United States Naval Reserve.

 

Henry was born approx. on Oct. 23, 1925 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

 

Father, Trevor D. Collier.

Mother, Annie M.(Weaver) Collier.

 

Henry enlisted  the service at Pennsylvania with serial number # 8204264.

 

Henry died when the USS Warrington was no longer manageable after the various bad weather due’s she sank very quick, on Sept 13, 1944, and he is honored with the Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Henry is buried/mentioned at East Coast Memorial, Manhattan, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/383.htm

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com and 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

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

 

Launched in May, 1937, the 1,850 ton destroyer Warrington capsized during a violent storm in the South Atlantic while on her way to Trinidad. With winds of up to 130 knots, the destroyer was brought to a standstill with the heavy seas pounding her hull to pieces. Sea water cascaded through the ducts and flooded the engine room cutting off all power and damaging her steering mechanism. The ship then took a heavy roll to starboard and the order to abandon ship was given. The Warrington then rolled completely over and with her bow pointing straight up at the sky she quickly and silently slid under the raging ocean. A prolonged search by rescue ships failed to save all the crew. Only 5 officers and 68 men were picked up from the sea two days later by the supply ship USS Hyades and the small carrier Croatan. A total of 248 officers and men had drowned.

Rank and Name, Private John Yakshe.

Unit/Placed in, 387^th Port Battalion, United States Army.

 

John is born approx. on 1912 in Cook County, Kansas.

Parents and Siblings, no record available.

 

John enlisted the service in Illinois with service number # 36236115.

 

John died non battle in an accident (hit by stone) on 7 Feb. 1944, he is honored with a Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

John is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

 

Thanks to,  http://www.longshoresoldiers.com/

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com and 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

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

Name and Rank, Corporal Robert H. Saas.

Unit/Placed in, Quartermaster Corps, 453rd. Amphibious Transport Company.

 

Robert was born approx. on 1915 in Wisconsin.

 

Parents and Siblings, no record available.

 

Robert entered  the service from Wisconsin with service number # 6917877.

 

Robert H. Saas was an Engineer in the 42nd Bomber Squadron.

 

Robert’s crewmembers and their positions onboard the plane a B-24 were,

 

1st Lt.          Thomas D. Reale               Pilot

2nd Lt.         Melvin S. Yost                   Co Pilot

1st Lt.          Ralph H. Junge                 Navigator

Cpl.              Robert H. Saas                  Engineer

Sgt.              George N. Ebinger             Asst Engineer

T/Sgt.          Harold G. Martin               Radio Operator

S/Sgt.          Stanley R. Chodkowski        Asst Radio Operator

Pvt.              Rodney D. Power               Armored Gunner

Pvt.              Carmen Rodriguez             Gunner

Capt.            Woodrow S. Hazel             Passenger

Robert was died when his plane was on a Gunnery run and had to land in the sea because of a fire, on Sep.12, 1944, he is honored with a Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Robert is buried at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Courts of the Missing.

 

Thanks to http://11thbombgroup.org/historyofthe11thbg.html

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

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

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

Name And Rank, Motor Machinist’s Mate Third Class Andrey Harold Saarm.

Unit/Placed in, USS Herring (SS-233) Submarine, United States Navy.

 

Andrey was born approx. on Oct. 18, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan.

Father, Augustus Saarm.

Born in Estonia.

Mother, Ida (Niskanen) Saarm.

Born in Finland.

Sister, Laila Saarm.

Brother, Lev Saarm.

 

Andrey entered  the service from Michigan with service number # 6237627.

 

Andrey H. Saarm was a Motor Machinist’s Mate 3nd Class in the United States Navy.

 

Andrey was KIA when the Submarine was shot and sunk by shore batteries on Matua Island, on June 1, 1944, and he is honored with the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Andrey is buried at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Courts of the Missing.

He also has a Memorial Grave at Springdale Township Cemetery, Copemish, Manistee County, Michigan, USA.

 

Thanks to http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/saarm-a-h.htm

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

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

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

Name and Rank, Gunner’s Mate Third Class Curtis Eugene Tarlton (Armed Guard).

Unit/Placed in, SS Jefferson Davies (Liberty-ship), United States Naval Reserve.

 

Curtis was born approx. on 1921 in Wadesboro, North Carolina.

Father, John E. Tarlton.

Mother, L. (McCormick) Tarlton.

 

Curtis entered  the service from North Carolina with service number # 6562473.

 

Curtis E. Tarlton was a Gunner’s Mate Third Class in the United States Navy.

 

Curtis died non Battle he fell overboard on Dec. 27, 1944, he is honored with a Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Curtis is buried at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Courts of the Missing.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

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

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

Name and Rank, Gunner’s Mate Third Class Jake Lee Adkins .

Unit/placed in, SS Robin Goodfellow (Cargo), United States Navy.

 

Jake was born approx. on 1925.

 

Parents and Siblings, unknown.

 

Jake entered  the Service from Kentucky with service number # 5600271.

 

Jake L. Adkins rank/duty was a Gunner’s Mate Third Class in the United States Naval Reserve.

 

Jake was Killed in Action when the SS Robin Goodfellow got torpedoed by a German U-Boat 862  and Sunk, on Nov. 25, 1944, and he is honored with the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Jake is buried at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Courts of the Missing.

 

Thanks to http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/3298.html.

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

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

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Name and Rank, Technician Fifth Grade Ellis C. Yoder Jr.

Unit/Placed in, 5307th Composite Unit “Merrill’s Marauders”.

 

Merrill’s Marauders were special Forces, that was a United States Army long Range Penetration special operations jungle warfare unit, which fought in the South-East.

 

Ellis was born approx. in 1924 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

 

Father, Ellis C. Yoder Sr.

Mother, Mabel P. Yoder.

Sisters, Edna, Ruth and Mildred Yoder.

Brothers, Raymond and Charles Yoder.

 

Ellis entered  the service from Pennsylvania with service number # 13124716.

 

Ellis C. Yoder Jr. was a Technician Fifth Grade in the 5307th Composite Unit.

 

Ellis was KIA in Myanmar, Burma on April 5, 1944, and he is honored with the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Ellis is buried at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Metro Manila,

National Capital Region, Philippines.

He also has a Memorial Grave at Saint John’s Germants Cemetery, Leesport, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA.

 

Thanks to http://www.marauder.org/marauder.htm

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

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

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

 

 

Merrill’s Marauders, made up of a series of light infantry assault units (lacking heavy weapons), was ordered to take up position at Nhpum Ga and hold it against attacking Japanese forces in April of 1944. Ill equipped for this holding action, the Marauders were put under siege and often time surrounded by the Japanese.

 

Faced with poor health conditions and limited supplies, the Marauders managed to hold. At the end of the battle, 400 enemy were confirmed dead with 57 dead marauders and hundreds more wounded or incapacitated.