Sanders, Roy
F
Machinist’s
Mate Chief Sanders was killed March 1, 1942, while serving aboard the USS Houston in the Battle of Sunda Strait. The War Department
declared him killed in action December 15, 1945 since they did not know the fate of all the crew members. Roy was married to a Chinese
National from Shanghai. They met in Hawaii
or the Philippines. Sanders was from Carbon
in Vigo County Indiana. His name appear on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Scecina, Thomas
J.
Chaplain Scecina,
United States Army, from Marion County Indiana served with the 57th Infantry Division at Fort McKinley, Philippines and was captured at the fall of the islands in 1942. He was one of
the soldiers in the Bataan Death March. At the POW camp her volunteered for burial and cemetery details and ministered to
the servicemen’s needs. In fall 1944 the Japanese prepared to transfer all POW's on the Philippines to the mainland to work as slave labor, against the Geneva Convention.
Fr. Tom boarded one of the first ships to move, the Arisan Maru, and endured two weeks of torture before the ship was unknowingly
torpedoed by an American submarine. In the final three hours Fr. Tom heard confessions, gave absolution, and comforted his
men as he became one of 1,792 men to die in the worst maritime disaster in United States History. For his heroism, Fr. Tom
posthumously received the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star. Among many other honors, Father Thomas Scecina
Memorial High School opened
in his memory in 1953. He died with his comrades October 24, 1944. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery.
Schenk,
Harold
Ensign
Schenk was a night fighter pilot and flew off the carrier USS Wasp. He was lost at sea during the
Battle of Leyte. He died December 14, 1944. He was from Indianapolis.
His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
Sears, Billy
D.
Seaman Second
Class Sears, United States Navy Reserve, Yorktown, Indiana,
was killed October 24, 1944, while serving on the USS Birmingham at Leyte,
Philippines. The USS Princeton was afire and Sears was part
of a large force from the USS Birmingham that had pulled along side the Princeton, and was
fighting the large fire. Contradicting reports indicate one that an enemy bomb exploded killing occupants on both ships and
two, the Princeton actually exploded when the fire had appeared to be extinguished. His name
appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
Sedam, Charles
E.
SGT Sedam
served with the United States Army Air Corps, 9th Bomber Squadron, 7th Bomber Group Heavy, as a ball
turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator. He was killed on a bombing missing in the China-Burma India Campaign. His plane was shot
down over the Indian Ocean. He was from Logansport and his name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Shamp,
Harry L Sr.
Private
First Class Harry L. Shamp Sr. of Williamsport and the United States Army, 199th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, was killed
March 18, 1944 while serving in the southwest Pacific during World War II. He is buried in Manila American Cemetery in the
Philippines.
Sheron,
Arthur Lee
Seaman
First Class Sheron of the USN, Grant County Indiana, died May 8, 1943, while serving on the USS Destroyer Simms which was
sunk during the Battle of Coral Sea. For a time he served on the USS Concord. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing
at the Manila American Cemetery
in the Philippines.
Shipe,
Richard L.
PFC Shipe,
United States Army, 164th Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, from Terre Haute,
Indiana, served in the Pacific theater during World War II and was killed in the Philippine
Islands at Leyte February 2, 1945. He was a sharpshooter. His name appears on the "Tablets
of the Missing" at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Shireman, Raymond
L
Machinist’s
Mate First Class Shireman served aboard the USS Houston CA-30 and was killed in action March 1, 1942 in the Battle of Sunda
Strait. His name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Short,
Chester Alonzo
Water Tender,
Second Class Short of LaPorte, Indiana
was killed March 1, 1942, while serving on the USS Houston CA-30 in the Battle of Sunda Strait. His name appears on the "Tablets
of the Missing" at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Sills, John
E
SGT Sills,
United States Army, 151st Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division of Blackford County Indiana was
killed February 8, 1945, while serving in the South Pacific. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.
Sims, Grady
A.
Seaman First
Class Sims, United States Navy, Muncie, Indiana was a gunner on a P-T boat, was notified he was killed
by a letter from a fellow soldier in a California hospital.
They had been serving in the South Pacific but no details exactly where were available. Burial was made at sea. His name appears
on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
Skaggs,
Ralph Leland
Storekeeper
Second Class Skaggs, Knightstown, Indiana
was killed in the South Pacific October 26, 1944, with few details regarding the tragedy. Mr. Skaggs was active in community
affairs in Knightstown and is a former president of the Kiwanis Club. He also served as Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop and
it was under his leadership that a Boy Scout cabin at Sunset
Park in Knightstown was built. His name appears
on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
Slamkowski, Barney X
Lt Slamkowski of East Chicago, Indiana and the United States Army Air Corps was killed in action while
serving in the China-India Theater during World War II. He and his C-46 crew were flying over the Hump from Sookerating, India
to Yunannyi, China where they were shot down in January 1944. He and the crew remained missing in action and were presumed
killed in action January 16, 1946. Lt Slamkowski's name is honored for his Supreme Sacrifice on the Tablets of the Missing
at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Sloan, Winson
Seaman Second Class Winson Sloan of Whitestown, Indiana and the United States Navy Reserve, was killed
in action October 3, 1944 while serving in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. His status is Missing in Action and
his name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Smith,
Andrew F.
Private
Smith, United States Army, Quartermaster Corps, from Henry County Indiana was declared killed in action May 8, 1944, by the
War Department. He had been missing since the fall of Corregidor in the Philippines.
It was later discovered that Private Smith died May 11, 1942, from dysentery he contacted in a Japanese prison camp. He is
buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Smith,
Reed L.
SSGT
Smith, United States Army, Company C of
the 151st Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division, of Burnsville, Indiana in Bartholomew County. He was killed February 8, 1945, in the Battle of Luzon in General Douglas MacArthur’s
“Return to the Philippines”.
He was at Zig Zag Pass about six miles east of Olongapo when he met his fate. His close brother Robert
was serving only 35 miles away in Southern Luzon when Reed was killed. He was buried temporarily
in the Olongapo Temporary Cemetery #1 and then moved later to the beautiful Manila
American Cemetery where he is
buried permanently.
Snow,
Lowell I.
Aviation
Machinist’s Mate Second Class Snow of Kokomo, Indiana was declared killed in action in the South Pacific January 14,
1946, after being missing for a considerable length of time. His name appears on the "Tablets of
the Missing" at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Snyder,
Clifford
TSGT
Snyder, United States Army, 152nd Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division, Cromwell,
Indiana, died February 13, 1945, was killed during the Luzon invasion in MacArthur’s
return to the Philippines. TSGT Snider
was a platoon leader in Company “L” and was in action at Zig
Zag Pass just east of Olongapo.
He earned the Bronze Star and Purple heart. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Soliday,
John M.
PFC Soliday,
169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division, from Fredricksburg,
Indiana in Washington County,
died March 6, 1945, as he volunteered to free American soldiers trapped by the Japanese in nearby hills in Luzon Philippines. He is buried in the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Spangler,
Donald H
Lieutenant
Donald Hayes Spangler of Albion, Indiana and the United States Navy was a communication officer on the USS Atlanta - CL-51
during World War II. His ship was involved in a major battle in the Solomon Islands and was sunk November 13, 1942. Lt. Spangler
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.
Spaulding,
Ellsworth M.
PFC Spaulding,
United States Army Air Corps, 1327th Army Air Force Base Unit, was declared killed in action May 3, 1945, after
being missing for a time while serving in India.
His home was in Salem, Indiana.
His name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Spitler,
James P.
2nd
Lieutenant Spitler, United States Army Air Corps, 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Hagerstown, Indiana, died of wounds he received in action in the Marshall Islands. He was buried in a temporary grave there
but his remains were never recovered to be moved to the Manila
American Cemetery. He could
also be one of the soldiers in a grave “Known But to God”.
Stafford,
James
Private
Stafford, United States Army, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, served in action at Hollandia,
Dutch New Guinea. He emerges and one of Indiana’s
tallest heroes as he refused to fall. The Hoosier infantryman staggered as he came out of the swamp into tall grass. For three
days his unit had been driving through the jungle heat, in clinging mud, chest-high swamp water and grass over six feet high..
Twenty-four miles lay behind in three days of horrifying conditions. Almost in sight was the Cyclops airdrome, the objective
and then hopefully some rest. In a low jungle-fighting crouch Stafford pressed on. Three
times he dropped but each time he struggled to his feet. His commanding sergeant told him to fall out but he shook his head
no. Twice more he slumped to the ground but slowly got up. At the crest of a knoll the company paused and Stafford
stretched out. Wild shouts and gunfire roused them as Japs were charging up the slope. After a while the gunfire died out
momentarily but there was no rest. Then a second Jap attack came. Thirty more this time with bayonets fixed. Fire and reload!
Fire and reload. The Japs dance before Stafford’s eyes. At last the enemy was wiped
out. Medics moved along the firing line attending to the wounded. They found Stafford unwounded
but in a coma and in two hours he was dead from heat exhaustion or stroke. He truly was a Hoosier hero to be remembered. His
home was in Indianapolis, Indiana and he is buried with honors
in the Manila American Cemetery
in the Philippines. He earned his Purple
Heart and most of all the Silver Star.
Starn,
Clayton Jr
Aviation
Ordnanceman Third Class, Starn, USNR, from Valparaiso and Terre Haute,
participated in operations in the South Pacific; Marshall Islands, Palau, Western New Guinea, the Mariana Islands and Leyte.
He was killed October 25, 1944, while on the aircraft carrier USS Suwannee during a kamikaze attack at Leyte, Philippines. His name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Stearley,
Everett W.
SSGT
Stearley of Brazil, Indiana and the 93rd Bomber Squadron, 19th Bomb Group Heavy died June 23, 1942 as a prisoner of war at
Cabanatuan, Philippines, in Japanese custody. He supposedly died of malaria and dysentery. He is buried in Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
Steffe,
Merlin M
Fire
Controlman Third Class Steffe of Howe, Indiana in LaGrange County and the United States Navy was killed in action November
13 or 14, 1942 during the battle of Guadalcanal. He served on the USS Monssen (DD-436) which sunk November 14, 1942. Merlin's
fate was uncertain but was declared dead one year later, November 14, 1943. His name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing
at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his Supreme Sacrifice.
Stewart, Edward
L
Sergeant Stewart,
United States Army, 31st Infantry Regiment, from Evansville, Indiana
died of pleurisy November 25, 1943, as a prisoner of war at Camp Asaka
in Japan. He had been in the military
for nine years and had been captured in the Philippines.
He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Stierwalt,
Morris A
Seaman
Second Class, Stierwalt, of Martinsville, Indiana and the United States Navy, was killed in action August 24, 1942, while
serving in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. He was serving on the USS Enterprise CV-6 in the Solomon Islands when
a Japanese plane bombed their aircraft carrier. His status is missing in action or buried at sea and his name is honored on
the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Stinetorf,
Eugene A
PFC Stinetorf,
United States Army, 13th General hospital Unit, from Richmond,
Indiana was killed July 13, 1944 while serving in the South Pacific during World
War II. Eugene was a conscientious objector. He is buried
in the Manila American Cemetery
in the Philippines.
Stoller,
James W
Yeoman Stoller
entered the United States Navy Reserve in 1942 and survived two ships sinking at sea but died in a battle at sea in which
his third ship was sent to the bottom. His home was in Goshen, Indiana. His name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Stout,
Elbert E
PFC Stout,
152nd Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division, of Hardinsburg,
Indiana. His date of death is listed as May 2, 1945 but there is some question
about the details or death date. Details about PFC Stout indicate he had been wounded at Bataan in the Philippines and after a bit of convalescence he returned to
his unit and was killed by a mortar shell on the second day. The famous siege at Bataan and Corregidor
and the Death March occurred during 1942. It was also common for the War Department to set a date of death after no indication
was the soldier or sailor survived in order to commence formalities for benefits for the family. There is also a possibility
that PFC Stout was actually killed in 1945 during the American invasion of Luzon
Island in the Philippines
on General Douglas MacArthur’s return to liberate the country.
Stowell,
Aubrey L Jr.
Second
Lieutenant Stowell, United States Army Air Corps, 501st Bomber Squadron, 345th Bomber Group Medium,
of Portland, Indiana, was
killed April 28, 1945. He was killed in action April 28, 1945, in Saigon River, French Indo-China. He was a bombardier
navigator. His name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Strickler,
Dudley, G.
Major
Strickler, 45th Infantry Regiment Philippine Scouts, died February 8, 1942, defending Bataan in the Philippines. He was from Middletown, Indiana in Henry
County and had graduated from Culver Military Academy and West Point
in 1927. His name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Stroud, Charles F
Private Stroud of English, Indiana and the United States Army, was killed November 26, 1942, while serving
with the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. If Pvt Stroud was with
the main body of the 32nd Infantry on the date he was killed, he died in the Battle of Buna-Gona. He is officially listed
as missing in action or buried at sea. His name is honored on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery.
Swain,
Eugene C.
TSGT
Swain, United States Army Air Corps, 31st Bomber Squadron Group Heavy, was killed in an airplane crash on Leyte Island in the Philippines March 7, 1945, according to a War Department message. He was with the
“Red Barons” of the 13th Air Force. He had been overseas since July 1944. His
name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
His home was Anderson, Indiana.
Symons,
Lowell E.
Master
Sergeant Symons, United States Army Air
Corps, Greentown, Indiana
was killed in action July 27, 1943. He was a flight engineer on a B-17 bomber and had been stationed at Hickam and Midway.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart. His name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Temple,
Blair G
SSGT Temple, United
States Army, 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division from Pekin
and Salem, Indiana was killed February 5, 1945, during the
invasion of Luzon Island in the Philippines. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery,
Philippines.
Tharp,
Robert L.
Private
Tharp, United States Army, 152nd Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division, died May 19, 1945, on Luzon Island in the Philippines. “He was from Howard County, Indiana. He is buried in the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
Tharp,
Ward K.
SGT Tharp, United States Army, Battery M, 60th
Coast Artillery Regiment
Coast Artillery Corps
or AMP: Army Mine Planter Service, from Howard County,
Indiana. He was reported captured May 7, 1942, at Bataan and survived the Death March. He died March 23, 1943 as a prisoner at Osaka Main Camp Chikko Osaka 34-135. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Thau,
Melvin
Seaman
First Class Thau served aboard the USS Maryland in the Pacific and was killed November 30, 1944, at the Battle of Leyte. He
is buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
His home was in South Bend, Indiana.
Thomas, Floyd
Captain Thomas
was a pilot of a P-38 in the 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, 13th Air Force. He
was killed in action November 10, 1944, at Ormoc Bay,
Leyte, Philippines.
His name appears on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
He was from Steuben County, Indiana.
Tillotson,
William D.
Technician
Fourth Class, Tillotson, United States
Army, 506th Port Battalion, of Lake County Indiana died October 22, 1944. He was born in 1924 in East
Chicago, Indiana and had three younger sisters; Marion, Dorothy and Daisy. The War Department’s details of his death is vague and the
family didn’t know where he died. A friend that served with William later told the family that a boat capsized and he
and other drowned. The date of death is in line with the Battle of Leyte and landings made on the island during General Douglas
MacArthur’s return to the Philippines.
He is buried with honors at the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
Tomko, Steve
F
EM2C Tomko
was missing in action and presumed killed October 5, 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 in the Philippines. At this time his home town and
county is not known.
Tudor, Max
Gipson
Electrician’s
Mate, Second Class Tudor, United States Navy Reserve, lost his life during the battle of Bougainville.
He was killed on the USS Foote when a Japanese torpedo hit his destroyer taking off part of the stern: body was lost at sea
2 Nov. 1943. Courtesy of Basil Eugene Tudor and short history of the USS Foote. His name appears on the "Tablets of
the Missing" at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Turner, Robert
Eugene
Seaman First
Class, Turner, United States Navy Reserve, Eaton, Indiana,
was legally declared dead January 7, 1946, after being missing in the Southwest Pacific since August 1943. He was aboard the
merchant ship Samuel Heintzelman, which sailed from Fremantle, Australia
for Colombo, Ceylon
on July 1, 1943. The ship was reported lost in the Indian Ocean July 14, 1943. Wreckage of
the ship was found in September, 1943, when it washed up on the shore of Mini Mini Village in the Maldive Islands. A plank with the name of the ship marked on it was found. His name appears
on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American
Cemetery in the Philippines.
