Servicemen O

Private O’Neill of the United States Army, 169^th Infantry Regiment, 43^rd Infantry Division, from Muncie, Indiana, died on Luzon Island in the Philippines during the American Invasion March 12, 1945. He had also been in the Battle of Leyte in the first invasion of the Philippines in General Douglas MacArthur’s return. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Captain William M Otterman, United States Army Air Force of Ladoga in Montgomery County Indiana was killed September 3, 1945, as the plane he was on crashed on Morotai Island. He entered the service January 17, 1941 as an air corps squadron bombardier candidate at Maxwell Field in Alabama and graduated at Victor Ville, California. He served 18 months in South America. He was a graduate of Ladoga High School and was a member of the same class with Ensign James F. Barnard, also of Ladoga, who lost his life in the South Pacific. Both of the men from Ladoga are buried at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Ensign Parkison of the United States Navy Reserve and Rensselaer, Indiana died June 22, 1943 while serving in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. He was flying out of Perth , Australia when his plane was lost. His name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.

TSGT Patton, United States Marine Corps, Bloomington Indiana, was killed April 25, 1944, as the plane he was a crew member was shot down over the South Pacific. He entered the service February 17, 1942 and served as a radio gunner. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart and his name appear on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

2nd Lt Pfrommer of the United States Army Air Corps and Lafayette in Tippecanoe County was killed February 28, 1945 during World War II in the Southwest Pacific. Lt Pfrommer was a co-pilot on a C-46 and thopught to be transporting wounded soldiers from the battlefield. He remains missing in action. His name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

First Lieutenant Clyde H. Pinnick, United States Army, of Salem in Washington County Indiana died January 30, 1942, in the Philippines as part of Mac Arthur's Return to liberate the country. Pinnick had practiced law in Salem going there from Orange County. He was a Reserve officer, and was called to service in the summer of 1941, and dispatched to the Philippines where he was stationed at Fort Mc Kinley until the war broke out with Japan. The lieutenant is listed on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippine Islands.

SSgt Pipes of Whitestown, Indiana in Boone County and the US Army Air Corps, 431st Bomber Sq, 11th Bomber Grp Heavy, was killed in action July 28, 1944, while serving in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. Sergeant Pipes was a B-24 tailgunner flying out of the Marshal Islands when his plane and crew were lost 12 miles northeast of Truk Island. He is missing in action and his name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

PFC Poe, United States Army, 151^st Regiment, 38^th Infantry Division was killed on Luzon Island in the Philippines May 21, 1945. He was from Shelby County. A couple weeks prior to his death the family received a letter. He talked about the fierce fighting going on and how he couldn’t wait to get home to small green grass and hold a new baby. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Gunner’s Mate, Third Class Purvis of Greensburg, Indiana was killed October 24, 1944, while serving on the Cruiser USS Birmingham near Leyte in the Philippines. He was part of the invasion force led by General Douglas MacArthur during his “Return to the Philippines” as he had promised. John is buried at sea. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Ensign Ramey, United States Navy Reserve, Muncie, Indiana was killed in action April 21, 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal while piloting a torpedo plane attached to the USS Yorktown in action in the Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands and at Hollandia, New Guinea. Ramey had inflicted heavy damage on the enemy. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the

Philippines

Corporal Raney, United States Army Air Corps from Monon, Indiana was killed October 9, 1944, while serving in the South Pacific as a radioman on a B-24 Liberator. Robert was from a large family and had nine siblings. He is missing or buried at sea. His name is honored on the “Tablets of the Missing” at the Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.

Technician 5^th Class Ratcliff, United States Army, 637^th Tank Destroyer Battalion, was killed January 29, 1945, in the American invasion of the Philippines on Luzon. He had been in the service since December 11, 1941, and had been overseas in the Pacific Theatre since May 1942. He had experienced considerable front-line action prior to the Luzon landing. His home had been in Crawfordsville prior to his enlistment.

MM3C Raymann served aboard the USS Houston CA-30 and was killed March 1, 1942 in the Battle of Sunda Strait. Due to the uncertainty of the crew the War Department listed their date of death as December 15, 1945. He was from Washington, Indiana. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery.

Seaman Second Class Reece, USNR, from Grant County, was killed November 1, 1944, in the Alleutian Islands and was buried at sea. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Machinist Richard A Regan, native of Pennsylvania and connected in Indiana at Columbus in Bartholomew County, and the United States Navy, died on the Hellship Arisan Maru. The hellship was sunk enroute to Japan with a load of American prisoners of war who had been imprisoned in the Philippines. He is missing in action or buried at sea. His name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Ensign Reichert, USN, was killed October 29, 1944. He lost his life aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier, when an aircraft landing after him failed to be stopped by the arresting gear. The second aircraft crashed into his plane and pushed it over the side. A search of the area was in vain, as crews searched the waters in the vicinity of Truk Island in the Pacific. His home was in Fort Wayne. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Rhoads of the United States Navy died January 10, 1945. Don volunteered to do double duty in the crow’s nest to cover for an ailing buddy on the USS DuPage (APA-41) when a Japanese fighter plane strafed the ship killed him. Donald was from Fairmount in Grant County Indiana. He was buried at sea and his name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Private Rice of the United States Army, 31^st Infantry Regiment, from Howard County Indiana, served his active duty under the helm of General Wainwright and General MacArthur in the Philippines at Corregidor at its fall. He was reported missing May 7, 1942, and pronounced killed in action the next day. His home was in Kokomo, Indiana. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the

Philippines

Quartermaster First Class Riddle, United States Navy Reserve, Alton, Indiana in Crawford County, was killed October 29, 1944, as the USS Eversole was lost in battle in support of the landing at Leyte, Philippines. He also participated in the first and second battles of the Philippine Sea. He was missing or buried at sea and his name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Boatswain's Mate First Class Eugene T Robison, of theUnited States Navy and Boggstown, Indiana, was declared dead May 25, 1946. Boatswain's Mate Robison served on the USS California, several merchant and tanker ships and was lost on the submarine USS Lagarto as it patrolled the South China Sea. His name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

PFC Rodenbeck, United States Army, 63^rd Regiment, 6^th Infantry Division, died January 19, 1945, probably during the landing of troops in the American Invasion of the Philippines as MacArthur returned to Luzon Island. He had also participated in front-line service in New Guinea. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

PFC Ross, United States Army Air Corps, 7^th Fighter Squadron, 49^th Fighter Group. The location is uncertain by our research but an aircraft attempting to land went out of control and plowed into a ground maintenance crew to which he was assigned. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines. His home was in Hope, Indiana.

PFC Ross of the United States Army, 126^th Infantry Regiment, 32^nd Infantry Division, of Logansport, Indiana was wounded in action in New Guinea and placed on an airplane for evacuation. While he was in flight he was killed. He is lost at sea.

Captain Ruddell of New Castle, Indiana and the United States Marine Corps was declared killed in action February 19, 1945 while serving in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. His name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery.