Post by Registrar on Feb 18, 2013 15:35:27 GMT 8
There's always a wealth of unfinished projects cluttering up my mind, and one of them is my effort to track down details of the men who were killed on Corregidor, not just of the Paratroopers and the 3/34th Infantry, but also those who were killed as the direct result of the retaking of the island. This has lead me through a number of other units, such as 603 Tank Co., 2 ESB, 592 JASCO. One of the difficulties that I have had is that the Unites States Navy keep their records compartmentalized, by breaking them up into Task Forces. For instance, two ships may take casualties in the same operation, but each of those ships may be of a different Task Force, and thus their casualty records may be filed in two entirely different places. One can't simply look up "Corregidor, USN."
It's also significant. and sad, that there were a lot of men killed in the Corregidor Operation that simply have never been included in the total of what the island cost. We're not dealing with small numbers, either. By my recording, so far, there are 24 men killed, who I have not yet identified - for instance, 7 on the USS LA VALETTE, 3 on USS RADFORD, 3 on YMS-46, 8 on USS HIDATSA, and 3 on a LCI(R).
Thus it is with mixed feelings that I add two more men to the listing of the "other units", and I shall relate their story, as briefly as I have it to tell.
Their listings are now linked at: rockforce.org/rock_force/taps/kia_draft_listing.htm
If anyone is wanting to pursue the research next time you are at the Washington Navy Yards, just give me an "ahoy". Like much in our respective realms, the researching is its own reward.
It's also significant. and sad, that there were a lot of men killed in the Corregidor Operation that simply have never been included in the total of what the island cost. We're not dealing with small numbers, either. By my recording, so far, there are 24 men killed, who I have not yet identified - for instance, 7 on the USS LA VALETTE, 3 on USS RADFORD, 3 on YMS-46, 8 on USS HIDATSA, and 3 on a LCI(R).
Thus it is with mixed feelings that I add two more men to the listing of the "other units", and I shall relate their story, as briefly as I have it to tell.
"..LCT's 724 and 729 proceeded with Corregidor attack group. These craft had already been loaded at Subic Bay and at Mariveles took on additional personnel only.Upon arrival at objective area, these LCT's stood by to be dispatched as the entire Sixth Wave. On two occasions they were sent to the beach by control vessel but both times because of heavy fire, they were ordered to return to line of departure. On the third attempt the LCT's proceeded the entire distance and beached. During this time they were subject to machine gun fire fro the vicinity of Ramsay Ravine. A number of hits were sustained on the craft and fire was returned by both twenty millimeter and .50 caliber automatic weapons. At or about the time the LCT 729 beached(13.10 hrs), the officer-in-charge, Ensign H.E. Kennedy, and Middleton, B.H., Seaman First Class, were hit by enemy fire, the latter being killed instantly. Ensign Kennedy died while being transferred to medical aid. Ensign Carleton Rutledge, Junior, immediately assumed command. Unloading began and continued for about three hours, since about one-half of load was bulk. Both craft retracted (16.15 hrs) and returned to Mariveles Harbor.
Their listings are now linked at: rockforce.org/rock_force/taps/kia_draft_listing.htm
If anyone is wanting to pursue the research next time you are at the Washington Navy Yards, just give me an "ahoy". Like much in our respective realms, the researching is its own reward.
