KILLED IN ACTION

Shipmates killed in action on 11 May, 1945.
(Exceptions as Noted)

Name

Rank

Service No.
     
BAKER, GERALD W.2 WT1/c 337-18-20
BASS. D. C.1 S1/c(GM) 967-62-36
BATTISTA, ROBERT J.1 RM3/c 958-99-05
BILLS, IVAN L.1 GM3/c 660-61-23
BLUM, WILLIAM P.1 F1/c 577-43-39
BREEDLOVE, JAMES E.2 F1/c 342-96-71
CARDIN, JOHN S.1 GM2/c 620-90-84
CAZALE, JOHN J.1 S1/c 202-31-00
CHOVANEC, CHARLES M.1 S2/c 713-48-01
CHRISTAKES, C. C.1 S1/c 804-52-41
CICHOWLAS, EDWARD R.2, 7 F1/c 952-89-93
CLOUSE, FRANCIS C.1 CGM 328-50-36
CROFOOT, GARDNER W.1 S1/c(TM) 943-79-02
EPELLEY, JOHN M. JR.3 S1/c(TM) 874-33-63
GREEN, CHARLES J. COX 853-42-34
HACKLER, DONALD F.3 F1/c 677-31-09
HARTUNG, VICTOR2 WT3/c 883-62-57
KELLEY, LEROY2 WT1/c 626-28-62
LEWIS, VAUGHN E.1 S1/c 973-33-43
MARKLAND, WORLEY S.1 TM2/c 640-41-15
MCKEAG, JAMES M.1 F1/c 881-32-68
MORRELL, JOSEPH J.2 WT1/c 382-24-81
NICHOLAS, LEO A.1 GM2/c 202-06-19
NOLES, EDWARD M.2 BM1/c 295-68-07
PATTERSON, RALPH A.1 S1/c 357-77-68
PUFAHL, ELMER A.1 MM3/c 865-92-63
REAVES, JAMES R.4, 5 SM3/c 605-07-30
SMITH, JAMES R.4, 6 S1/c 321-91-37
VEESENMEYER, L.J.1 S2/c 945-48-46
WILSON, ROBERT H. JR.2 WT3/c 258-36-97
WRIGHT, LEON2, 8 F2/c(WT) 939-14-86
 

1. Buried at sea, Nansei Shoto, Okinawa.

2. U.S. Armed Forces Cemetery, Zamami Shima, Okinawa.

3. 7th Div.(INF) Cemetery, Hagushi, Okinawa.

4. Unknown location as of this writing.

5. James R. Reaves was re-assigned to the USS Curtis (AV4) 
after 11 May 45, was killed on that ship 21 July 45 
during a kamikaze attack.

6. James R. Smith was wounded on Hadley 11 May 45, died 
from wounds 21 July 45.

7. Edward R. Cichowlas is the only known crew member to 
be re-interred at Punchbowl National Cemetery.

8. Leon Wright was re-interred at Bennett Cemetery, 
Groveton, TX. on 1 April 1949

NOTE: In the year starting with 1949 all Pacific War dead were re-interred 
either stateside or at Punchbowl National Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii.

 

Francis C. Clouse  
Chief Gunner's Mate

 

Joseph J. Morrell  
Water Tender First Class
Re-interred at Holly Cross Cemetery
Culver City, CA

Worley S. Markland  
Torpedoman Second Class

 

Leo A. Nichols  
Gunner's Mate Second Class

 

Robert J. Battista, 
Radioman Third Class

 

E. R. Cichowlas
 Fireman First Class
Re-interred at Punchbowl Nation 
Cemetery, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii 

 

Leon L. Wright 
Fireman Second Class (WT)
Re-interred at Bennett Cemetery, 
Groveton, TX

 

   Gerald W. Baker
Water Tender First Class

Leon Wright 
Fireman 2/c (WT)

 

U.S. Armed Forces Cemetery, 
Zamami Shima, Okinawa, July 1945.

 

   Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is a very impressive and somber shrine in Honolulu, Hawaii. The cemetery is located in Punchbowl Crater, an extinct volcano known as Puowaina, Hawaiian for "Hill of Sacrifice." More than 38,000 are buried in this memorial park, including victims of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Among the honored dead are over 13,000 killed-in-action during World War II, as well as 600 more from Korea and Vietnam. The centerpiece of the beautiful cemetery is the striking memorial pictured above. On either side of the ascending stairway are ten "Courts of the Missing"--monuments to 28,788 Americans listed as missing-in-action. The top of the monument is anchored by the "Court of Honor"--a stirring and evocative area where persons can visit a memorial chapel and view several large and colorful map galleries. These galleries depict important engagements in the Pacific Theater during World War II and also the war in Korea from 1950-53. The most visible and distinguishable feature of the "Court of Honor" is the 30-foot statue of Columbia--a female figure holding a laurel branch.

Punchbowl is a quiet, serene and moving place. Visitors not only enjoy the natural beauty of the cemetery but have the opportunity to relax and reflect on the costs of war. The inspiring memorial and thousands of graves of those who served their country make one's heart swell with pride. It also reminds us of the sacrifice that has been needed to keep our country free. A visit to Punchbowl will affect one deeply. If you have the opportunity to travel to Hawaii and visit the island of Oahu, you should not miss this touching landmark.