This is a Cenotaph. A memorial.
MISSING IN ACTION CHINA SEA 1942∼Thank you CJeanealogy for the transfer of Lt Goodyear's memorial page.
DONOVAN GEORGE GOODYEAR, also known as Don, was born on Sunday, 16 March 1918 in Marion, Linn, Iowa. His only sibling was younger brother Dale B. Goodyear (1922-1945). His parents were George Samuel and Ruth Minnetta (Brotemarkle) Goodyear who married 14 Feb 1917 in Marion, Linn, IA. George, a native of Linn County, IA, was a farmer for most of his pre-retirement days except for a stint as an insurance salesman for General Insurance Co., that began sometime in the 1940s. Ruth grew up on a farm. When she married she became a farmer's wife with all the duties that entails. Ruth was a native of Walnut, Bureau, IL.
Don attended Marion, IA schools. While in Marion high school Donovan was on the staff of the school's Quill yearbook. He was elected vice-president of his Freshman and Sophomore classes in 1932 and 1933. He was a tackle on the football team and member of the "M" club. The club's purpose was to stimulate interest in Marion High athletics. He was a recipient of a major "M" award based upon his playing time. He was also a member of the Math club. Don graduated from Marion high school with fifty-four other seniors at the sixty-second commencement exercise on 23 May 1935. The commencement was held at the local Methodist Church.
Don matriculated at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA in the fall of 1935. Because the University was 35 miles away, Don was not able to travel back and forth between Marion and Iowa City each day. In addition to his tuition and book expenses, Don had to pay for room and board. He had to find a job quickly if he was to remain in school. He secured a position at the Memorial Union kitchen. He started by scrubbing floors. Five years later he was the head chef and youngest person to ever hold that position. By his own admission, Don couldn't fry an egg when he came to the Union asking for work in 1935. He learned his work from the ground floor. He scrubbed them. His first promotion was to potato peeler. Then he became an assistant to the head chef from whom he learned his oven technique. She permitted him first to fry steaks and advanced him to the more difficult meats. When she died in 1940, University officials, without hesitation, dubbed him "king of the kitchen" and head chef at Iowa Memorial Union. He worked 8 hours a day plying his culinary artistry.
In order to balance his budget of cash and time, Don took fewer courses than the traditional course load each semester. Originally a member of the class of 1939, he was now on schedule to graduate with the class of 1941. As a student, Don was a budding journalist following a path to his aspired profession. In his "spare" time he worked on the Daily Iowan student Newspaper. He was also active in politics. On 08 Apr 1937, Don was chosen one of 20 delegates to represent the Young Democrats club of Linn county at the state Democratic convention in Des Moines.
At the beginning of his 3rd college year, WWII began on 05 Sep 1939. He was one of that group of young (and some older) Americans who started to prepare themselves for their country's service. In October 1939, the University of Iowa began a civilian pilot primary training course in conjunction with the Civil Aeronautics Authority (C.A.A.). This program was to become massive in it's size and scope across the United States in the coming years. The year of 1940 was a life-changing year for this collegian/Chef/and soon to be civilian pilot.
Don completed his Junior year at college in May 1940. On 15 Jun, Don was selected for the university's 3 month civilian primary pilot training class which were held at the university and the Municipal Airport of Iowa City. Upon his selection, he decided not to register for fall classes and he resigned his chef's position later that summer. His time was consumed with his flight training classes. In early Sept, Don and 39 other student pilots graduated and passed their licensing exams for a private pilots license. On 16 Oct 1940, he registered for the WWII Draft. It was a defining moment for him and tens of thousands of men like him. Several weeks later on 03 Nov 1940, Don was chosen as one of a select group of 10 advanced students to receive the secondary pilots training course. The opportunity was offered to these advanced students because of their outstanding work in the primary course. Training was given at Iowa City, IA municipal airport. His advanced training course finished in Jan 1941.
Later in November, Don applied to the US Army Air Force Aviation Cadet program. Because he was already a pilot, he did not have to participate in the month long preliminary flight training, but he did have to sit for an interview before the Aviation Cadet Examination board. The board accepted him, and he was admitted on 25 Nov 1940. On 13 Dec 1941, a special initiation for Don into Sigma Delta Chi, the national professional journalistic fraternity, was held at the University of Iowa so he could become an active member before leaving for military service on 08 Feb 1941. He also learned that he would be drafted into the US Army Infantry when his draft number was called in February 1941. However, because he completed CAA training, Selective Service law allowed him to enlist in the Air Corps instead.
On 08 Feb 1941, Donovan G. Goodyear enlisted in the US Army Air Force Reserve as an Aviation Cadet at Fort Des Moines, IA. He was to receive 30 weeks of aviation related training; 10 weeks of primary; 10 weeks of basic and 10 weeks of advanced flying instruction. Cadet Goodyear transferred later that day to Cal Aero Aviation Training Academy near Ontario, San Bernardino, CA. He arrived on the 10th, whereupon he was assigned to Army Aviation Cadet class 41-G.
In late April 1941, Cadet Goodyear completed his primary training logging 65 hours in 200 horse power engine planes. On 2 May, he began basic flight training at Randolph Field, San Angelo, TX. He graduated on 12 July from Randolph. Iowa had 16 grads in class 41-G. Goodyear began advanced flight training on 20 July at Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX. He completed advanced training, accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant US Army Air Force Reserve (USAAFR) and earned his Army silver pilot's wings on 26 Sep 41. His US Army Service Number (ASN) was 0-427687.
Several days after graduation, 2d Lt Goodyear arrived home on a 10 day furlough before reporting for duty at Hamilton Field, Petaluma, Marin, CA. Ten days later, Lt Goodyear bade farewell to family and friends and departed for California. This would be the last time he would see his family. He reported for duty at Hamilton Field on 08 Oct 41. He was assigned to 21st Pursuit Squadron (PS), 35th Pursuit Group, 10th Pursuit Wing. Exactly a month later, Goodyear married Margaret Yvonne Groll in Carson City, Ormsby, NV. Margaret was a native of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada born of American parents. Her father, George Groll, was born in Marion, Linn, Iowa and was an acquaintance of the Goodyear and Oxley families. The Grolls moved from Marion to Canada at the end of WWI. Then from Canada to Mill Valley, Marin, CA about 1923.
Don and Margaret's honeymoon was very brief, for on 20 Nov 1941, Lt Goodyear received orders to report to the troop ship, USS Republic (AP-33) for transport to the Philippines (USAT Republic was taken over by the Navy and commissioned as USS Republic (AP-33) on 22 July 1941.)). She steamed out of San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge the day after Thanksgiving, 21 Nov 1941 bound for Manila, Philippines via Pearl Harbor. Her passengers comprise some 2,666 Army Air Force personnel including forty-eight pursuit pilots of the 35th PG along with aircraft shipped disassembled in crates. After steaming a week, the Republic moored at Honolulu on 28 Nov 1941. Republic steamed out of Pearl Harbor on the 29th joining seven other ships. She assumed the role of flagship for a convoy bound for the Philippines escorted by the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24).
That convoy, generally known as the Pensacola Convoy (Army sources may use the term Republic convoy) was designated Task Group 15.5. Pensacola's convoy comprised the gunboat USS Niagara; the U.S. Navy transports USS Republic and USS Chaumont; the U.S. Army transport ships USAT Willard A. Holbrook (on board were thirty-nine newly graduated but unassigned pilots) and USAT Meigs; the U.S. merchant ships Admiral Halstead and Coast Farmer; and the Dutch merchant ship Bloemfontein on which were eighteen crated Curtiss P-40 fighter planes of the 35th PG (Interceptor). The convoy was intended to reinforce United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), created to defend the U.S. Commonwealth of the Philippines and commanded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
On 6 December the convoy crossed the equator celebrating the largest Army Shellback initiation up to that time. The following day the convoy commander received word that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and Guam forcing the convoy to divert first to Suva in the Fiji Islands. Underway from Suva on 16 Dec, the convoy steamed to Brisbane, Australia where it arrived on 22 Dec 1941. The Republic began disembarking her passengers and unloading her cargo on the 23rd to a rousing welcome by many of the local Aussies.
The incoming US Army personnel were temporarily billeted at the Brisbane Ascot race track where 2-4 men tents were set-up. Living conditions for most were primitive at best. Some of the pilots ventured into Brisbane and managed to secure much more comfortable quarters. The primary focus for the army personnel, however, was unloading the crated P-40s in order to quickly begin assembling them. Once that was completed the urgency was to get pilots into the air and begin training so that planes and pilots could be transferred to the Philippines to reinforce USAFFE. Unfortunately, bureaucratic snafus, harsh environmental conditions, shortage of maintenance personnel, and wrong or no assembly parts conspired to impede the objective. In some cases, pilots had to assemble their planes themselves. However, even after assembly, many aircraft could not be flown because of a shortage of Prestone coolant for the engines. Stateside slipshod on-loading became the focus of blame. The Prestone had not been shipped with the aircraft. Fortunately, the Australian air corps and local supplies helped to mitigate the problem.
The 35th PG planned to begin training of its P-40 pilots on 2 Jan 42, however, there were far more rookie pilots than there were aircraft to fly. As January wore on training opportunities improved with the assembly of more aircraft. So to did the living quarters as most pilots moved to officer's quarters at Amberley Field.
By 08 Feb 42, Lt Goodyear had transferred to the 33rd Pursuit Squadron. Lt Goodyear was one of a group of thirty-two P-40 Pursuit pilots from the 13th and 33rd Pursuit Squadrons (Provisional), 35th PG, ordered to Tjilatjap, Java to help provide fighter support to the Dutch and Allied forces attempting to repel the invading Japanese forces. On 22 Feb 1942, they embarked with 12 enlisted crew chiefs/Armorers on board the seaplane tender USS Langley (AV-3) at Fremantle, Australia. Hoisted on board the same day were thirty-two ready-to-fly P40s. The Langley, normally crewed by about 500 men, departed Fremantle later that day and steamed initially toward Burma and India, but Langley was soon redirected toward the port of Tjilatjap on Java where she was scheduled to arrive on 28 Feb.
At 0700 on the morning of 27 Feb, Langley rendezvoused with her anti-submarine destroyer escorts USS Whipple (DD-217) and USS Edsall (DD-219) about 100 miles from her destination. Two hours later, Langley and her escorts were spotted by an enemy reconnaissance plane. Shortly before 1200, sixteen (16) Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bombers of the Japanese 21st and 23rd Naval Air Flotillas and escorted by fifteen (15) A6M Reisen fighters began attacking Langley. She was about 70 miles from her destination. Langley was initially successful in dodging the falling ordinance, but eventually she was hit by multiple bombs sustaining fatal damage. At 1332, Langley's CO, CDR Robert P. McConnell, concluded that the ship was lost and ordered her abandoned. Within thirty minutes all of the survivors had been plucked from the sea by Whipple (308 officers and men including Lt Smith) and Edsall (177 officers and men).
At 1428, Whipple fired nine 4-inch rounds into Langley's hull. She then fired one torpedo (exploded) into the port side and then one into the starboard side of Langley. The last torpedo exploded causing a large fire. Because of the danger of another air attack, the two destroyers cleared the area, however, no one actually saw the Langley slide beneath the waves.
On 28 February, the two destroyers rendezvoused with the fuel replenishment ship USS Pecos (AO-6) off Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island some 250 miles southwest of Tjilatjap. Prior to the arrival of Pecos, Whipple transferred 32 pilots/airmen, including Lt Smith, to Edsall. A sudden attack by land based Japanese bombers forced Edsall and the other ships to head for the open sea and postpone survivor transfers to Pecos.
The ships headed directly south into the Indian Ocean for the rest of 28 February in high winds and heavy seas. Early in the pre-dawn hours of 1 March, Whipple and Edsall transferred all the Langley survivors to Pecos. There were now close to 700 personnel aboard the oiler. Whipple then set off for Cocos Islands as protection for the tanker Belita sent to meet her there. The Pecos, carrying a large number of survivors was ordered to Australia. Edsall had retained 32 USAAF personnel from Langley needed to assemble and fly an additional 27 P-40E fighters shipped to Tjilatjap aboard the transport Sea Witch. Edsall was instructed to return these "fighter crews" to Tjilatjap. At 0830, she reversed course and headed back to the northeast for Java.
At noon that day, planes from Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu attacked Pecos and struck her again an hour later. Finally, in mid-afternoon, third and fourth strikes from carriers Hiryu and Akagi fatally wounded the Pecos. While under attack, Pecos radioed for help. After Pecos sank, Whipple returned to the scene intentionally arriving after dark. She eventually rescued 232 survivors. Many other survivors, although visible to crewmembers on board Whipple, had to be abandoned at sea because Whipple made sonar contact with what was believed to be several Japanese submarines. It was just too dangerous for her to remain in the area.
Edsall may have heard Pecos' call for help. Maybe she was following orders not to proceed to Java but steam south to Australia. In any case, Edsall reversed her northerly course and was never heard from again. Mr and Mrs Frank L. Johnson were informed by the war department that their son, Lt Bennett Lee Johnson, 27, a pursuit pilot attached to the U.S.S. Langley was reported missing by the Navy Department on 4 April 1942. His remains were unrecoverable. He was presumed dead on 25 Dec 1945.
On 6 Apr 42, Mr and Mrs George S. Goodyear of Omaha, NE., were notified by telegram that their son Lt Donovan G. Goodyear was missing in the service of his country. On 11 August 42, The Johnsons were notified by the US War Department that 2d Lt Donovan G. Goodyear was among 31 officers and 12 enlisted men who were lost on board the aircraft tender Langley in the Java sea battle.
Lt Goodyear was posthumously awarded the US Army Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star and the World War II Victory Medal.
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The family also received a commemoration from then President Harry S. Truman. It reads: "In Grateful Memory of Second Lieutenant Donovan G. Goodyear who died in the service of his country in the Pacific Area, 01 March 1942. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase it blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
//s//
Harry S Truman
President of the United States of America
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After WWII ended, an Allied War Crimes Tribunal was convened in Java in 1946. During the investigation it was learned from an eyewitness that allied POWs had been executed by the Japanese in early 1942. The witness provided the location of the massacre. The remains of six sailors were identified by their ID tags as members of the crew of USS Edsall (DD-219). Their remains were returned home for burial.
Because no known survivors lived to tell the Edsall''s story after the war, the details surrounding her sinking remained largely a mystery for more than a half century. Finally, after years of research, historians compiled a partial story of Edsall''s last hours, but it was not until Japanese records and eyewitnesses became available that the full story was revealed.
It was an epic battle of heroic proportion involving the aging Edsall and one of the world's strongest naval forces of its day. After Edsall reversed her course on 01 Mar 1942 and steamed away from Java, she stumbled upon Admiral Nagumo's battle force, Kido Butai, that had been prowling the Indian Ocean in search of enemy shipping. Unfortunately, Edsall was spotted first. She was initially misidentified as a Marblehead class light cruiser. IJN battleships Hiei and Kirishima and heavy cruisers Tone and Chikuma were directed to attack Edsall with surface gunfire. Edsall began evasive maneuvers, frustrating the Japanese for the next hour and half. Ducking in and out of her smoke screen and rain squalls, Edsall successfully avoided a fatal strike. However, because of the damage done previously to one of her propeller shafts, Edsall was unable to make top speed or maneuver fully. At one point Edsall turned and launched her torpedoes narrowly missing Chikuma. The Japanese ships fired 1400 rounds resulting in only one or two hits. The frustrated Admiral Nagumo called upon his carriers to finish off Edsall. She was attacked by dive-bombers from two Japanese carriers (Kaga, Soryu,) and possibly a third (Hiryu) before succumbing to their devastating attacks. The Edsall went down at 1731 hours, 430 miles south of Java.
It was learned in 1946 that at least six Edsall crew had survived the sinking. Many years later, however, Japanese eyewitnesses on board Chikuma confirmed that at least eight Edsall crewmen from a large number of survivors were fished out of the water and brought on board the Chikuma. The rest of the survivors were left to their fate in the water. Chikuma and the rest of the battle force arrived at Staring Bay anchorage, Celebes on 11 Mar 1942.
Three dozen POWs, at least 8 from the Edsall (possibly five more may have been Army Air Force personnel) and the remainder from a Dutch ship, were turned over to the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces based at Kendari where they were executed by beheading on 24 Mar 1942 near Kendari II airfield, Netherland East Indies. Five of the six confirmed Edsall survivors who were executed are buried in a common grave at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis, MO with five unknowns who were recovered near the Edsall five. Apparently several of the unknowns wore what looked like khaki uniforms. The grave of the sixth known Edsall crewman who survived and was executed was reburied at the request of his next of kin in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI.
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References
1). Barch, William H. Every Day a Nightmare: American pursuit pilots in the defense of Java, 1942-1943. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2010.
2). Cox, Jeffery R. Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II. Oxbury, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2014.
3). Kehn, Donald M. Jr. In the Highest Degree Tragic: The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies during World War II. Potomac Book is an imprint of the University of Nebraska, 2017.
4). Kehn, Donald M. Jr. A Blue Sea of Blood: Deciphering the Mysterious Fate of the USS Edsall. Minneapolis, MN, Zenith Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, 2008.
5). Messimer, Dwight R. Pawns of War: The Loss of the USS Langley and the USS Pecos. Annapolis, Maryland, Naval Institute Press, 1983.
6). Ancestry.com. Various US Census reports, 1900-1950. Online databases. Retrieved: 19 April – 23 April 2023.
7). Newspapers.com. Various news articles in Nebraska newspaper. On line databases. Retrieved: 19 April – 24 April 2023.
8). Ancestry.com. Tomahawk 1936, Municipal University of Omaha, Nebraska. Yearbooks database online. Retrieved: 20 April 2023.
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[Bio #417 composed on 29 Apr 2023 by Gerry Lawton (GML470)\
Military Hall of Honor ID# 138861
Find A Grave Memorial #141690172
MISSING IN ACTION CHINA SEA 1942∼Thank you CJeanealogy for the transfer of Lt Goodyear's memorial page.
DONOVAN GEORGE GOODYEAR, also known as Don, was born on Sunday, 16 March 1918 in Marion, Linn, Iowa. His only sibling was younger brother Dale B. Goodyear (1922-1945). His parents were George Samuel and Ruth Minnetta (Brotemarkle) Goodyear who married 14 Feb 1917 in Marion, Linn, IA. George, a native of Linn County, IA, was a farmer for most of his pre-retirement days except for a stint as an insurance salesman for General Insurance Co., that began sometime in the 1940s. Ruth grew up on a farm. When she married she became a farmer's wife with all the duties that entails. Ruth was a native of Walnut, Bureau, IL.
Don attended Marion, IA schools. While in Marion high school Donovan was on the staff of the school's Quill yearbook. He was elected vice-president of his Freshman and Sophomore classes in 1932 and 1933. He was a tackle on the football team and member of the "M" club. The club's purpose was to stimulate interest in Marion High athletics. He was a recipient of a major "M" award based upon his playing time. He was also a member of the Math club. Don graduated from Marion high school with fifty-four other seniors at the sixty-second commencement exercise on 23 May 1935. The commencement was held at the local Methodist Church.
Don matriculated at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA in the fall of 1935. Because the University was 35 miles away, Don was not able to travel back and forth between Marion and Iowa City each day. In addition to his tuition and book expenses, Don had to pay for room and board. He had to find a job quickly if he was to remain in school. He secured a position at the Memorial Union kitchen. He started by scrubbing floors. Five years later he was the head chef and youngest person to ever hold that position. By his own admission, Don couldn't fry an egg when he came to the Union asking for work in 1935. He learned his work from the ground floor. He scrubbed them. His first promotion was to potato peeler. Then he became an assistant to the head chef from whom he learned his oven technique. She permitted him first to fry steaks and advanced him to the more difficult meats. When she died in 1940, University officials, without hesitation, dubbed him "king of the kitchen" and head chef at Iowa Memorial Union. He worked 8 hours a day plying his culinary artistry.
In order to balance his budget of cash and time, Don took fewer courses than the traditional course load each semester. Originally a member of the class of 1939, he was now on schedule to graduate with the class of 1941. As a student, Don was a budding journalist following a path to his aspired profession. In his "spare" time he worked on the Daily Iowan student Newspaper. He was also active in politics. On 08 Apr 1937, Don was chosen one of 20 delegates to represent the Young Democrats club of Linn county at the state Democratic convention in Des Moines.
At the beginning of his 3rd college year, WWII began on 05 Sep 1939. He was one of that group of young (and some older) Americans who started to prepare themselves for their country's service. In October 1939, the University of Iowa began a civilian pilot primary training course in conjunction with the Civil Aeronautics Authority (C.A.A.). This program was to become massive in it's size and scope across the United States in the coming years. The year of 1940 was a life-changing year for this collegian/Chef/and soon to be civilian pilot.
Don completed his Junior year at college in May 1940. On 15 Jun, Don was selected for the university's 3 month civilian primary pilot training class which were held at the university and the Municipal Airport of Iowa City. Upon his selection, he decided not to register for fall classes and he resigned his chef's position later that summer. His time was consumed with his flight training classes. In early Sept, Don and 39 other student pilots graduated and passed their licensing exams for a private pilots license. On 16 Oct 1940, he registered for the WWII Draft. It was a defining moment for him and tens of thousands of men like him. Several weeks later on 03 Nov 1940, Don was chosen as one of a select group of 10 advanced students to receive the secondary pilots training course. The opportunity was offered to these advanced students because of their outstanding work in the primary course. Training was given at Iowa City, IA municipal airport. His advanced training course finished in Jan 1941.
Later in November, Don applied to the US Army Air Force Aviation Cadet program. Because he was already a pilot, he did not have to participate in the month long preliminary flight training, but he did have to sit for an interview before the Aviation Cadet Examination board. The board accepted him, and he was admitted on 25 Nov 1940. On 13 Dec 1941, a special initiation for Don into Sigma Delta Chi, the national professional journalistic fraternity, was held at the University of Iowa so he could become an active member before leaving for military service on 08 Feb 1941. He also learned that he would be drafted into the US Army Infantry when his draft number was called in February 1941. However, because he completed CAA training, Selective Service law allowed him to enlist in the Air Corps instead.
On 08 Feb 1941, Donovan G. Goodyear enlisted in the US Army Air Force Reserve as an Aviation Cadet at Fort Des Moines, IA. He was to receive 30 weeks of aviation related training; 10 weeks of primary; 10 weeks of basic and 10 weeks of advanced flying instruction. Cadet Goodyear transferred later that day to Cal Aero Aviation Training Academy near Ontario, San Bernardino, CA. He arrived on the 10th, whereupon he was assigned to Army Aviation Cadet class 41-G.
In late April 1941, Cadet Goodyear completed his primary training logging 65 hours in 200 horse power engine planes. On 2 May, he began basic flight training at Randolph Field, San Angelo, TX. He graduated on 12 July from Randolph. Iowa had 16 grads in class 41-G. Goodyear began advanced flight training on 20 July at Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX. He completed advanced training, accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant US Army Air Force Reserve (USAAFR) and earned his Army silver pilot's wings on 26 Sep 41. His US Army Service Number (ASN) was 0-427687.
Several days after graduation, 2d Lt Goodyear arrived home on a 10 day furlough before reporting for duty at Hamilton Field, Petaluma, Marin, CA. Ten days later, Lt Goodyear bade farewell to family and friends and departed for California. This would be the last time he would see his family. He reported for duty at Hamilton Field on 08 Oct 41. He was assigned to 21st Pursuit Squadron (PS), 35th Pursuit Group, 10th Pursuit Wing. Exactly a month later, Goodyear married Margaret Yvonne Groll in Carson City, Ormsby, NV. Margaret was a native of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada born of American parents. Her father, George Groll, was born in Marion, Linn, Iowa and was an acquaintance of the Goodyear and Oxley families. The Grolls moved from Marion to Canada at the end of WWI. Then from Canada to Mill Valley, Marin, CA about 1923.
Don and Margaret's honeymoon was very brief, for on 20 Nov 1941, Lt Goodyear received orders to report to the troop ship, USS Republic (AP-33) for transport to the Philippines (USAT Republic was taken over by the Navy and commissioned as USS Republic (AP-33) on 22 July 1941.)). She steamed out of San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge the day after Thanksgiving, 21 Nov 1941 bound for Manila, Philippines via Pearl Harbor. Her passengers comprise some 2,666 Army Air Force personnel including forty-eight pursuit pilots of the 35th PG along with aircraft shipped disassembled in crates. After steaming a week, the Republic moored at Honolulu on 28 Nov 1941. Republic steamed out of Pearl Harbor on the 29th joining seven other ships. She assumed the role of flagship for a convoy bound for the Philippines escorted by the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24).
That convoy, generally known as the Pensacola Convoy (Army sources may use the term Republic convoy) was designated Task Group 15.5. Pensacola's convoy comprised the gunboat USS Niagara; the U.S. Navy transports USS Republic and USS Chaumont; the U.S. Army transport ships USAT Willard A. Holbrook (on board were thirty-nine newly graduated but unassigned pilots) and USAT Meigs; the U.S. merchant ships Admiral Halstead and Coast Farmer; and the Dutch merchant ship Bloemfontein on which were eighteen crated Curtiss P-40 fighter planes of the 35th PG (Interceptor). The convoy was intended to reinforce United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), created to defend the U.S. Commonwealth of the Philippines and commanded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
On 6 December the convoy crossed the equator celebrating the largest Army Shellback initiation up to that time. The following day the convoy commander received word that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and Guam forcing the convoy to divert first to Suva in the Fiji Islands. Underway from Suva on 16 Dec, the convoy steamed to Brisbane, Australia where it arrived on 22 Dec 1941. The Republic began disembarking her passengers and unloading her cargo on the 23rd to a rousing welcome by many of the local Aussies.
The incoming US Army personnel were temporarily billeted at the Brisbane Ascot race track where 2-4 men tents were set-up. Living conditions for most were primitive at best. Some of the pilots ventured into Brisbane and managed to secure much more comfortable quarters. The primary focus for the army personnel, however, was unloading the crated P-40s in order to quickly begin assembling them. Once that was completed the urgency was to get pilots into the air and begin training so that planes and pilots could be transferred to the Philippines to reinforce USAFFE. Unfortunately, bureaucratic snafus, harsh environmental conditions, shortage of maintenance personnel, and wrong or no assembly parts conspired to impede the objective. In some cases, pilots had to assemble their planes themselves. However, even after assembly, many aircraft could not be flown because of a shortage of Prestone coolant for the engines. Stateside slipshod on-loading became the focus of blame. The Prestone had not been shipped with the aircraft. Fortunately, the Australian air corps and local supplies helped to mitigate the problem.
The 35th PG planned to begin training of its P-40 pilots on 2 Jan 42, however, there were far more rookie pilots than there were aircraft to fly. As January wore on training opportunities improved with the assembly of more aircraft. So to did the living quarters as most pilots moved to officer's quarters at Amberley Field.
By 08 Feb 42, Lt Goodyear had transferred to the 33rd Pursuit Squadron. Lt Goodyear was one of a group of thirty-two P-40 Pursuit pilots from the 13th and 33rd Pursuit Squadrons (Provisional), 35th PG, ordered to Tjilatjap, Java to help provide fighter support to the Dutch and Allied forces attempting to repel the invading Japanese forces. On 22 Feb 1942, they embarked with 12 enlisted crew chiefs/Armorers on board the seaplane tender USS Langley (AV-3) at Fremantle, Australia. Hoisted on board the same day were thirty-two ready-to-fly P40s. The Langley, normally crewed by about 500 men, departed Fremantle later that day and steamed initially toward Burma and India, but Langley was soon redirected toward the port of Tjilatjap on Java where she was scheduled to arrive on 28 Feb.
At 0700 on the morning of 27 Feb, Langley rendezvoused with her anti-submarine destroyer escorts USS Whipple (DD-217) and USS Edsall (DD-219) about 100 miles from her destination. Two hours later, Langley and her escorts were spotted by an enemy reconnaissance plane. Shortly before 1200, sixteen (16) Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bombers of the Japanese 21st and 23rd Naval Air Flotillas and escorted by fifteen (15) A6M Reisen fighters began attacking Langley. She was about 70 miles from her destination. Langley was initially successful in dodging the falling ordinance, but eventually she was hit by multiple bombs sustaining fatal damage. At 1332, Langley's CO, CDR Robert P. McConnell, concluded that the ship was lost and ordered her abandoned. Within thirty minutes all of the survivors had been plucked from the sea by Whipple (308 officers and men including Lt Smith) and Edsall (177 officers and men).
At 1428, Whipple fired nine 4-inch rounds into Langley's hull. She then fired one torpedo (exploded) into the port side and then one into the starboard side of Langley. The last torpedo exploded causing a large fire. Because of the danger of another air attack, the two destroyers cleared the area, however, no one actually saw the Langley slide beneath the waves.
On 28 February, the two destroyers rendezvoused with the fuel replenishment ship USS Pecos (AO-6) off Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island some 250 miles southwest of Tjilatjap. Prior to the arrival of Pecos, Whipple transferred 32 pilots/airmen, including Lt Smith, to Edsall. A sudden attack by land based Japanese bombers forced Edsall and the other ships to head for the open sea and postpone survivor transfers to Pecos.
The ships headed directly south into the Indian Ocean for the rest of 28 February in high winds and heavy seas. Early in the pre-dawn hours of 1 March, Whipple and Edsall transferred all the Langley survivors to Pecos. There were now close to 700 personnel aboard the oiler. Whipple then set off for Cocos Islands as protection for the tanker Belita sent to meet her there. The Pecos, carrying a large number of survivors was ordered to Australia. Edsall had retained 32 USAAF personnel from Langley needed to assemble and fly an additional 27 P-40E fighters shipped to Tjilatjap aboard the transport Sea Witch. Edsall was instructed to return these "fighter crews" to Tjilatjap. At 0830, she reversed course and headed back to the northeast for Java.
At noon that day, planes from Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu attacked Pecos and struck her again an hour later. Finally, in mid-afternoon, third and fourth strikes from carriers Hiryu and Akagi fatally wounded the Pecos. While under attack, Pecos radioed for help. After Pecos sank, Whipple returned to the scene intentionally arriving after dark. She eventually rescued 232 survivors. Many other survivors, although visible to crewmembers on board Whipple, had to be abandoned at sea because Whipple made sonar contact with what was believed to be several Japanese submarines. It was just too dangerous for her to remain in the area.
Edsall may have heard Pecos' call for help. Maybe she was following orders not to proceed to Java but steam south to Australia. In any case, Edsall reversed her northerly course and was never heard from again. Mr and Mrs Frank L. Johnson were informed by the war department that their son, Lt Bennett Lee Johnson, 27, a pursuit pilot attached to the U.S.S. Langley was reported missing by the Navy Department on 4 April 1942. His remains were unrecoverable. He was presumed dead on 25 Dec 1945.
On 6 Apr 42, Mr and Mrs George S. Goodyear of Omaha, NE., were notified by telegram that their son Lt Donovan G. Goodyear was missing in the service of his country. On 11 August 42, The Johnsons were notified by the US War Department that 2d Lt Donovan G. Goodyear was among 31 officers and 12 enlisted men who were lost on board the aircraft tender Langley in the Java sea battle.
Lt Goodyear was posthumously awarded the US Army Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star and the World War II Victory Medal.
---------------------------------
The family also received a commemoration from then President Harry S. Truman. It reads: "In Grateful Memory of Second Lieutenant Donovan G. Goodyear who died in the service of his country in the Pacific Area, 01 March 1942. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase it blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
//s//
Harry S Truman
President of the United States of America
------------------------------------
After WWII ended, an Allied War Crimes Tribunal was convened in Java in 1946. During the investigation it was learned from an eyewitness that allied POWs had been executed by the Japanese in early 1942. The witness provided the location of the massacre. The remains of six sailors were identified by their ID tags as members of the crew of USS Edsall (DD-219). Their remains were returned home for burial.
Because no known survivors lived to tell the Edsall''s story after the war, the details surrounding her sinking remained largely a mystery for more than a half century. Finally, after years of research, historians compiled a partial story of Edsall''s last hours, but it was not until Japanese records and eyewitnesses became available that the full story was revealed.
It was an epic battle of heroic proportion involving the aging Edsall and one of the world's strongest naval forces of its day. After Edsall reversed her course on 01 Mar 1942 and steamed away from Java, she stumbled upon Admiral Nagumo's battle force, Kido Butai, that had been prowling the Indian Ocean in search of enemy shipping. Unfortunately, Edsall was spotted first. She was initially misidentified as a Marblehead class light cruiser. IJN battleships Hiei and Kirishima and heavy cruisers Tone and Chikuma were directed to attack Edsall with surface gunfire. Edsall began evasive maneuvers, frustrating the Japanese for the next hour and half. Ducking in and out of her smoke screen and rain squalls, Edsall successfully avoided a fatal strike. However, because of the damage done previously to one of her propeller shafts, Edsall was unable to make top speed or maneuver fully. At one point Edsall turned and launched her torpedoes narrowly missing Chikuma. The Japanese ships fired 1400 rounds resulting in only one or two hits. The frustrated Admiral Nagumo called upon his carriers to finish off Edsall. She was attacked by dive-bombers from two Japanese carriers (Kaga, Soryu,) and possibly a third (Hiryu) before succumbing to their devastating attacks. The Edsall went down at 1731 hours, 430 miles south of Java.
It was learned in 1946 that at least six Edsall crew had survived the sinking. Many years later, however, Japanese eyewitnesses on board Chikuma confirmed that at least eight Edsall crewmen from a large number of survivors were fished out of the water and brought on board the Chikuma. The rest of the survivors were left to their fate in the water. Chikuma and the rest of the battle force arrived at Staring Bay anchorage, Celebes on 11 Mar 1942.
Three dozen POWs, at least 8 from the Edsall (possibly five more may have been Army Air Force personnel) and the remainder from a Dutch ship, were turned over to the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces based at Kendari where they were executed by beheading on 24 Mar 1942 near Kendari II airfield, Netherland East Indies. Five of the six confirmed Edsall survivors who were executed are buried in a common grave at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis, MO with five unknowns who were recovered near the Edsall five. Apparently several of the unknowns wore what looked like khaki uniforms. The grave of the sixth known Edsall crewman who survived and was executed was reburied at the request of his next of kin in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI.
--------------------------------------------
References
1). Barch, William H. Every Day a Nightmare: American pursuit pilots in the defense of Java, 1942-1943. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2010.
2). Cox, Jeffery R. Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II. Oxbury, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2014.
3). Kehn, Donald M. Jr. In the Highest Degree Tragic: The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies during World War II. Potomac Book is an imprint of the University of Nebraska, 2017.
4). Kehn, Donald M. Jr. A Blue Sea of Blood: Deciphering the Mysterious Fate of the USS Edsall. Minneapolis, MN, Zenith Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, 2008.
5). Messimer, Dwight R. Pawns of War: The Loss of the USS Langley and the USS Pecos. Annapolis, Maryland, Naval Institute Press, 1983.
6). Ancestry.com. Various US Census reports, 1900-1950. Online databases. Retrieved: 19 April – 23 April 2023.
7). Newspapers.com. Various news articles in Nebraska newspaper. On line databases. Retrieved: 19 April – 24 April 2023.
8). Ancestry.com. Tomahawk 1936, Municipal University of Omaha, Nebraska. Yearbooks database online. Retrieved: 20 April 2023.
---------------------------------------------
[Bio #417 composed on 29 Apr 2023 by Gerry Lawton (GML470)\
Military Hall of Honor ID# 138861
Find A Grave Memorial #141690172
This is a Cenotaph. A memorial.
MISSING IN ACTION CHINA SEA 1942∼Thank you CJeanealogy for the transfer of Lt Goodyear's memorial page.
DONOVAN GEORGE GOODYEAR, also known as Don, was born on Sunday, 16 March 1918 in Marion, Linn, Iowa. His only sibling was younger brother Dale B. Goodyear (1922-1945). His parents were George Samuel and Ruth Minnetta (Brotemarkle) Goodyear who married 14 Feb 1917 in Marion, Linn, IA. George, a native of Linn County, IA, was a farmer for most of his pre-retirement days except for a stint as an insurance salesman for General Insurance Co., that began sometime in the 1940s. Ruth grew up on a farm. When she married she became a farmer's wife with all the duties that entails. Ruth was a native of Walnut, Bureau, IL.
Don attended Marion, IA schools. While in Marion high school Donovan was on the staff of the school's Quill yearbook. He was elected vice-president of his Freshman and Sophomore classes in 1932 and 1933. He was a tackle on the football team and member of the "M" club. The club's purpose was to stimulate interest in Marion High athletics. He was a recipient of a major "M" award based upon his playing time. He was also a member of the Math club. Don graduated from Marion high school with fifty-four other seniors at the sixty-second commencement exercise on 23 May 1935. The commencement was held at the local Methodist Church.
Don matriculated at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA in the fall of 1935. Because the University was 35 miles away, Don was not able to travel back and forth between Marion and Iowa City each day. In addition to his tuition and book expenses, Don had to pay for room and board. He had to find a job quickly if he was to remain in school. He secured a position at the Memorial Union kitchen. He started by scrubbing floors. Five years later he was the head chef and youngest person to ever hold that position. By his own admission, Don couldn't fry an egg when he came to the Union asking for work in 1935. He learned his work from the ground floor. He scrubbed them. His first promotion was to potato peeler. Then he became an assistant to the head chef from whom he learned his oven technique. She permitted him first to fry steaks and advanced him to the more difficult meats. When she died in 1940, University officials, without hesitation, dubbed him "king of the kitchen" and head chef at Iowa Memorial Union. He worked 8 hours a day plying his culinary artistry.
In order to balance his budget of cash and time, Don took fewer courses than the traditional course load each semester. Originally a member of the class of 1939, he was now on schedule to graduate with the class of 1941. As a student, Don was a budding journalist following a path to his aspired profession. In his "spare" time he worked on the Daily Iowan student Newspaper. He was also active in politics. On 08 Apr 1937, Don was chosen one of 20 delegates to represent the Young Democrats club of Linn county at the state Democratic convention in Des Moines.
At the beginning of his 3rd college year, WWII began on 05 Sep 1939. He was one of that group of young (and some older) Americans who started to prepare themselves for their country's service. In October 1939, the University of Iowa began a civilian pilot primary training course in conjunction with the Civil Aeronautics Authority (C.A.A.). This program was to become massive in it's size and scope across the United States in the coming years. The year of 1940 was a life-changing year for this collegian/Chef/and soon to be civilian pilot.
Don completed his Junior year at college in May 1940. On 15 Jun, Don was selected for the university's 3 month civilian primary pilot training class which were held at the university and the Municipal Airport of Iowa City. Upon his selection, he decided not to register for fall classes and he resigned his chef's position later that summer. His time was consumed with his flight training classes. In early Sept, Don and 39 other student pilots graduated and passed their licensing exams for a private pilots license. On 16 Oct 1940, he registered for the WWII Draft. It was a defining moment for him and tens of thousands of men like him. Several weeks later on 03 Nov 1940, Don was chosen as one of a select group of 10 advanced students to receive the secondary pilots training course. The opportunity was offered to these advanced students because of their outstanding work in the primary course. Training was given at Iowa City, IA municipal airport. His advanced training course finished in Jan 1941.
Later in November, Don applied to the US Army Air Force Aviation Cadet program. Because he was already a pilot, he did not have to participate in the month long preliminary flight training, but he did have to sit for an interview before the Aviation Cadet Examination board. The board accepted him, and he was admitted on 25 Nov 1940. On 13 Dec 1941, a special initiation for Don into Sigma Delta Chi, the national professional journalistic fraternity, was held at the University of Iowa so he could become an active member before leaving for military service on 08 Feb 1941. He also learned that he would be drafted into the US Army Infantry when his draft number was called in February 1941. However, because he completed CAA training, Selective Service law allowed him to enlist in the Air Corps instead.
On 08 Feb 1941, Donovan G. Goodyear enlisted in the US Army Air Force Reserve as an Aviation Cadet at Fort Des Moines, IA. He was to receive 30 weeks of aviation related training; 10 weeks of primary; 10 weeks of basic and 10 weeks of advanced flying instruction. Cadet Goodyear transferred later that day to Cal Aero Aviation Training Academy near Ontario, San Bernardino, CA. He arrived on the 10th, whereupon he was assigned to Army Aviation Cadet class 41-G.
In late April 1941, Cadet Goodyear completed his primary training logging 65 hours in 200 horse power engine planes. On 2 May, he began basic flight training at Randolph Field, San Angelo, TX. He graduated on 12 July from Randolph. Iowa had 16 grads in class 41-G. Goodyear began advanced flight training on 20 July at Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX. He completed advanced training, accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant US Army Air Force Reserve (USAAFR) and earned his Army silver pilot's wings on 26 Sep 41. His US Army Service Number (ASN) was 0-427687.
Several days after graduation, 2d Lt Goodyear arrived home on a 10 day furlough before reporting for duty at Hamilton Field, Petaluma, Marin, CA. Ten days later, Lt Goodyear bade farewell to family and friends and departed for California. This would be the last time he would see his family. He reported for duty at Hamilton Field on 08 Oct 41. He was assigned to 21st Pursuit Squadron (PS), 35th Pursuit Group, 10th Pursuit Wing. Exactly a month later, Goodyear married Margaret Yvonne Groll in Carson City, Ormsby, NV. Margaret was a native of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada born of American parents. Her father, George Groll, was born in Marion, Linn, Iowa and was an acquaintance of the Goodyear and Oxley families. The Grolls moved from Marion to Canada at the end of WWI. Then from Canada to Mill Valley, Marin, CA about 1923.
Don and Margaret's honeymoon was very brief, for on 20 Nov 1941, Lt Goodyear received orders to report to the troop ship, USS Republic (AP-33) for transport to the Philippines (USAT Republic was taken over by the Navy and commissioned as USS Republic (AP-33) on 22 July 1941.)). She steamed out of San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge the day after Thanksgiving, 21 Nov 1941 bound for Manila, Philippines via Pearl Harbor. Her passengers comprise some 2,666 Army Air Force personnel including forty-eight pursuit pilots of the 35th PG along with aircraft shipped disassembled in crates. After steaming a week, the Republic moored at Honolulu on 28 Nov 1941. Republic steamed out of Pearl Harbor on the 29th joining seven other ships. She assumed the role of flagship for a convoy bound for the Philippines escorted by the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24).
That convoy, generally known as the Pensacola Convoy (Army sources may use the term Republic convoy) was designated Task Group 15.5. Pensacola's convoy comprised the gunboat USS Niagara; the U.S. Navy transports USS Republic and USS Chaumont; the U.S. Army transport ships USAT Willard A. Holbrook (on board were thirty-nine newly graduated but unassigned pilots) and USAT Meigs; the U.S. merchant ships Admiral Halstead and Coast Farmer; and the Dutch merchant ship Bloemfontein on which were eighteen crated Curtiss P-40 fighter planes of the 35th PG (Interceptor). The convoy was intended to reinforce United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), created to defend the U.S. Commonwealth of the Philippines and commanded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
On 6 December the convoy crossed the equator celebrating the largest Army Shellback initiation up to that time. The following day the convoy commander received word that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and Guam forcing the convoy to divert first to Suva in the Fiji Islands. Underway from Suva on 16 Dec, the convoy steamed to Brisbane, Australia where it arrived on 22 Dec 1941. The Republic began disembarking her passengers and unloading her cargo on the 23rd to a rousing welcome by many of the local Aussies.
The incoming US Army personnel were temporarily billeted at the Brisbane Ascot race track where 2-4 men tents were set-up. Living conditions for most were primitive at best. Some of the pilots ventured into Brisbane and managed to secure much more comfortable quarters. The primary focus for the army personnel, however, was unloading the crated P-40s in order to quickly begin assembling them. Once that was completed the urgency was to get pilots into the air and begin training so that planes and pilots could be transferred to the Philippines to reinforce USAFFE. Unfortunately, bureaucratic snafus, harsh environmental conditions, shortage of maintenance personnel, and wrong or no assembly parts conspired to impede the objective. In some cases, pilots had to assemble their planes themselves. However, even after assembly, many aircraft could not be flown because of a shortage of Prestone coolant for the engines. Stateside slipshod on-loading became the focus of blame. The Prestone had not been shipped with the aircraft. Fortunately, the Australian air corps and local supplies helped to mitigate the problem.
The 35th PG planned to begin training of its P-40 pilots on 2 Jan 42, however, there were far more rookie pilots than there were aircraft to fly. As January wore on training opportunities improved with the assembly of more aircraft. So to did the living quarters as most pilots moved to officer's quarters at Amberley Field.
By 08 Feb 42, Lt Goodyear had transferred to the 33rd Pursuit Squadron. Lt Goodyear was one of a group of thirty-two P-40 Pursuit pilots from the 13th and 33rd Pursuit Squadrons (Provisional), 35th PG, ordered to Tjilatjap, Java to help provide fighter support to the Dutch and Allied forces attempting to repel the invading Japanese forces. On 22 Feb 1942, they embarked with 12 enlisted crew chiefs/Armorers on board the seaplane tender USS Langley (AV-3) at Fremantle, Australia. Hoisted on board the same day were thirty-two ready-to-fly P40s. The Langley, normally crewed by about 500 men, departed Fremantle later that day and steamed initially toward Burma and India, but Langley was soon redirected toward the port of Tjilatjap on Java where she was scheduled to arrive on 28 Feb.
At 0700 on the morning of 27 Feb, Langley rendezvoused with her anti-submarine destroyer escorts USS Whipple (DD-217) and USS Edsall (DD-219) about 100 miles from her destination. Two hours later, Langley and her escorts were spotted by an enemy reconnaissance plane. Shortly before 1200, sixteen (16) Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bombers of the Japanese 21st and 23rd Naval Air Flotillas and escorted by fifteen (15) A6M Reisen fighters began attacking Langley. She was about 70 miles from her destination. Langley was initially successful in dodging the falling ordinance, but eventually she was hit by multiple bombs sustaining fatal damage. At 1332, Langley's CO, CDR Robert P. McConnell, concluded that the ship was lost and ordered her abandoned. Within thirty minutes all of the survivors had been plucked from the sea by Whipple (308 officers and men including Lt Smith) and Edsall (177 officers and men).
At 1428, Whipple fired nine 4-inch rounds into Langley's hull. She then fired one torpedo (exploded) into the port side and then one into the starboard side of Langley. The last torpedo exploded causing a large fire. Because of the danger of another air attack, the two destroyers cleared the area, however, no one actually saw the Langley slide beneath the waves.
On 28 February, the two destroyers rendezvoused with the fuel replenishment ship USS Pecos (AO-6) off Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island some 250 miles southwest of Tjilatjap. Prior to the arrival of Pecos, Whipple transferred 32 pilots/airmen, including Lt Smith, to Edsall. A sudden attack by land based Japanese bombers forced Edsall and the other ships to head for the open sea and postpone survivor transfers to Pecos.
The ships headed directly south into the Indian Ocean for the rest of 28 February in high winds and heavy seas. Early in the pre-dawn hours of 1 March, Whipple and Edsall transferred all the Langley survivors to Pecos. There were now close to 700 personnel aboard the oiler. Whipple then set off for Cocos Islands as protection for the tanker Belita sent to meet her there. The Pecos, carrying a large number of survivors was ordered to Australia. Edsall had retained 32 USAAF personnel from Langley needed to assemble and fly an additional 27 P-40E fighters shipped to Tjilatjap aboard the transport Sea Witch. Edsall was instructed to return these "fighter crews" to Tjilatjap. At 0830, she reversed course and headed back to the northeast for Java.
At noon that day, planes from Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu attacked Pecos and struck her again an hour later. Finally, in mid-afternoon, third and fourth strikes from carriers Hiryu and Akagi fatally wounded the Pecos. While under attack, Pecos radioed for help. After Pecos sank, Whipple returned to the scene intentionally arriving after dark. She eventually rescued 232 survivors. Many other survivors, although visible to crewmembers on board Whipple, had to be abandoned at sea because Whipple made sonar contact with what was believed to be several Japanese submarines. It was just too dangerous for her to remain in the area.
Edsall may have heard Pecos' call for help. Maybe she was following orders not to proceed to Java but steam south to Australia. In any case, Edsall reversed her northerly course and was never heard from again. Mr and Mrs Frank L. Johnson were informed by the war department that their son, Lt Bennett Lee Johnson, 27, a pursuit pilot attached to the U.S.S. Langley was reported missing by the Navy Department on 4 April 1942. His remains were unrecoverable. He was presumed dead on 25 Dec 1945.
On 6 Apr 42, Mr and Mrs George S. Goodyear of Omaha, NE., were notified by telegram that their son Lt Donovan G. Goodyear was missing in the service of his country. On 11 August 42, The Johnsons were notified by the US War Department that 2d Lt Donovan G. Goodyear was among 31 officers and 12 enlisted men who were lost on board the aircraft tender Langley in the Java sea battle.
Lt Goodyear was posthumously awarded the US Army Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star and the World War II Victory Medal.
---------------------------------
The family also received a commemoration from then President Harry S. Truman. It reads: "In Grateful Memory of Second Lieutenant Donovan G. Goodyear who died in the service of his country in the Pacific Area, 01 March 1942. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase it blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
//s//
Harry S Truman
President of the United States of America
------------------------------------
After WWII ended, an Allied War Crimes Tribunal was convened in Java in 1946. During the investigation it was learned from an eyewitness that allied POWs had been executed by the Japanese in early 1942. The witness provided the location of the massacre. The remains of six sailors were identified by their ID tags as members of the crew of USS Edsall (DD-219). Their remains were returned home for burial.
Because no known survivors lived to tell the Edsall''s story after the war, the details surrounding her sinking remained largely a mystery for more than a half century. Finally, after years of research, historians compiled a partial story of Edsall''s last hours, but it was not until Japanese records and eyewitnesses became available that the full story was revealed.
It was an epic battle of heroic proportion involving the aging Edsall and one of the world's strongest naval forces of its day. After Edsall reversed her course on 01 Mar 1942 and steamed away from Java, she stumbled upon Admiral Nagumo's battle force, Kido Butai, that had been prowling the Indian Ocean in search of enemy shipping. Unfortunately, Edsall was spotted first. She was initially misidentified as a Marblehead class light cruiser. IJN battleships Hiei and Kirishima and heavy cruisers Tone and Chikuma were directed to attack Edsall with surface gunfire. Edsall began evasive maneuvers, frustrating the Japanese for the next hour and half. Ducking in and out of her smoke screen and rain squalls, Edsall successfully avoided a fatal strike. However, because of the damage done previously to one of her propeller shafts, Edsall was unable to make top speed or maneuver fully. At one point Edsall turned and launched her torpedoes narrowly missing Chikuma. The Japanese ships fired 1400 rounds resulting in only one or two hits. The frustrated Admiral Nagumo called upon his carriers to finish off Edsall. She was attacked by dive-bombers from two Japanese carriers (Kaga, Soryu,) and possibly a third (Hiryu) before succumbing to their devastating attacks. The Edsall went down at 1731 hours, 430 miles south of Java.
It was learned in 1946 that at least six Edsall crew had survived the sinking. Many years later, however, Japanese eyewitnesses on board Chikuma confirmed that at least eight Edsall crewmen from a large number of survivors were fished out of the water and brought on board the Chikuma. The rest of the survivors were left to their fate in the water. Chikuma and the rest of the battle force arrived at Staring Bay anchorage, Celebes on 11 Mar 1942.
Three dozen POWs, at least 8 from the Edsall (possibly five more may have been Army Air Force personnel) and the remainder from a Dutch ship, were turned over to the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces based at Kendari where they were executed by beheading on 24 Mar 1942 near Kendari II airfield, Netherland East Indies. Five of the six confirmed Edsall survivors who were executed are buried in a common grave at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis, MO with five unknowns who were recovered near the Edsall five. Apparently several of the unknowns wore what looked like khaki uniforms. The grave of the sixth known Edsall crewman who survived and was executed was reburied at the request of his next of kin in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI.
--------------------------------------------
References
1). Barch, William H. Every Day a Nightmare: American pursuit pilots in the defense of Java, 1942-1943. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2010.
2). Cox, Jeffery R. Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II. Oxbury, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2014.
3). Kehn, Donald M. Jr. In the Highest Degree Tragic: The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies during World War II. Potomac Book is an imprint of the University of Nebraska, 2017.
4). Kehn, Donald M. Jr. A Blue Sea of Blood: Deciphering the Mysterious Fate of the USS Edsall. Minneapolis, MN, Zenith Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, 2008.
5). Messimer, Dwight R. Pawns of War: The Loss of the USS Langley and the USS Pecos. Annapolis, Maryland, Naval Institute Press, 1983.
6). Ancestry.com. Various US Census reports, 1900-1950. Online databases. Retrieved: 19 April – 23 April 2023.
7). Newspapers.com. Various news articles in Nebraska newspaper. On line databases. Retrieved: 19 April – 24 April 2023.
8). Ancestry.com. Tomahawk 1936, Municipal University of Omaha, Nebraska. Yearbooks database online. Retrieved: 20 April 2023.
---------------------------------------------
[Bio #417 composed on 29 Apr 2023 by Gerry Lawton (GML470)\
Military Hall of Honor ID# 138861
Find A Grave Memorial #141690172
MISSING IN ACTION CHINA SEA 1942∼Thank you CJeanealogy for the transfer of Lt Goodyear's memorial page.
DONOVAN GEORGE GOODYEAR, also known as Don, was born on Sunday, 16 March 1918 in Marion, Linn, Iowa. His only sibling was younger brother Dale B. Goodyear (1922-1945). His parents were George Samuel and Ruth Minnetta (Brotemarkle) Goodyear who married 14 Feb 1917 in Marion, Linn, IA. George, a native of Linn County, IA, was a farmer for most of his pre-retirement days except for a stint as an insurance salesman for General Insurance Co., that began sometime in the 1940s. Ruth grew up on a farm. When she married she became a farmer's wife with all the duties that entails. Ruth was a native of Walnut, Bureau, IL.
Don attended Marion, IA schools. While in Marion high school Donovan was on the staff of the school's Quill yearbook. He was elected vice-president of his Freshman and Sophomore classes in 1932 and 1933. He was a tackle on the football team and member of the "M" club. The club's purpose was to stimulate interest in Marion High athletics. He was a recipient of a major "M" award based upon his playing time. He was also a member of the Math club. Don graduated from Marion high school with fifty-four other seniors at the sixty-second commencement exercise on 23 May 1935. The commencement was held at the local Methodist Church.
Don matriculated at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA in the fall of 1935. Because the University was 35 miles away, Don was not able to travel back and forth between Marion and Iowa City each day. In addition to his tuition and book expenses, Don had to pay for room and board. He had to find a job quickly if he was to remain in school. He secured a position at the Memorial Union kitchen. He started by scrubbing floors. Five years later he was the head chef and youngest person to ever hold that position. By his own admission, Don couldn't fry an egg when he came to the Union asking for work in 1935. He learned his work from the ground floor. He scrubbed them. His first promotion was to potato peeler. Then he became an assistant to the head chef from whom he learned his oven technique. She permitted him first to fry steaks and advanced him to the more difficult meats. When she died in 1940, University officials, without hesitation, dubbed him "king of the kitchen" and head chef at Iowa Memorial Union. He worked 8 hours a day plying his culinary artistry.
In order to balance his budget of cash and time, Don took fewer courses than the traditional course load each semester. Originally a member of the class of 1939, he was now on schedule to graduate with the class of 1941. As a student, Don was a budding journalist following a path to his aspired profession. In his "spare" time he worked on the Daily Iowan student Newspaper. He was also active in politics. On 08 Apr 1937, Don was chosen one of 20 delegates to represent the Young Democrats club of Linn county at the state Democratic convention in Des Moines.
At the beginning of his 3rd college year, WWII began on 05 Sep 1939. He was one of that group of young (and some older) Americans who started to prepare themselves for their country's service. In October 1939, the University of Iowa began a civilian pilot primary training course in conjunction with the Civil Aeronautics Authority (C.A.A.). This program was to become massive in it's size and scope across the United States in the coming years. The year of 1940 was a life-changing year for this collegian/Chef/and soon to be civilian pilot.
Don completed his Junior year at college in May 1940. On 15 Jun, Don was selected for the university's 3 month civilian primary pilot training class which were held at the university and the Municipal Airport of Iowa City. Upon his selection, he decided not to register for fall classes and he resigned his chef's position later that summer. His time was consumed with his flight training classes. In early Sept, Don and 39 other student pilots graduated and passed their licensing exams for a private pilots license. On 16 Oct 1940, he registered for the WWII Draft. It was a defining moment for him and tens of thousands of men like him. Several weeks later on 03 Nov 1940, Don was chosen as one of a select group of 10 advanced students to receive the secondary pilots training course. The opportunity was offered to these advanced students because of their outstanding work in the primary course. Training was given at Iowa City, IA municipal airport. His advanced training course finished in Jan 1941.
Later in November, Don applied to the US Army Air Force Aviation Cadet program. Because he was already a pilot, he did not have to participate in the month long preliminary flight training, but he did have to sit for an interview before the Aviation Cadet Examination board. The board accepted him, and he was admitted on 25 Nov 1940. On 13 Dec 1941, a special initiation for Don into Sigma Delta Chi, the national professional journalistic fraternity, was held at the University of Iowa so he could become an active member before leaving for military service on 08 Feb 1941. He also learned that he would be drafted into the US Army Infantry when his draft number was called in February 1941. However, because he completed CAA training, Selective Service law allowed him to enlist in the Air Corps instead.
On 08 Feb 1941, Donovan G. Goodyear enlisted in the US Army Air Force Reserve as an Aviation Cadet at Fort Des Moines, IA. He was to receive 30 weeks of aviation related training; 10 weeks of primary; 10 weeks of basic and 10 weeks of advanced flying instruction. Cadet Goodyear transferred later that day to Cal Aero Aviation Training Academy near Ontario, San Bernardino, CA. He arrived on the 10th, whereupon he was assigned to Army Aviation Cadet class 41-G.
In late April 1941, Cadet Goodyear completed his primary training logging 65 hours in 200 horse power engine planes. On 2 May, he began basic flight training at Randolph Field, San Angelo, TX. He graduated on 12 July from Randolph. Iowa had 16 grads in class 41-G. Goodyear began advanced flight training on 20 July at Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX. He completed advanced training, accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant US Army Air Force Reserve (USAAFR) and earned his Army silver pilot's wings on 26 Sep 41. His US Army Service Number (ASN) was 0-427687.
Several days after graduation, 2d Lt Goodyear arrived home on a 10 day furlough before reporting for duty at Hamilton Field, Petaluma, Marin, CA. Ten days later, Lt Goodyear bade farewell to family and friends and departed for California. This would be the last time he would see his family. He reported for duty at Hamilton Field on 08 Oct 41. He was assigned to 21st Pursuit Squadron (PS), 35th Pursuit Group, 10th Pursuit Wing. Exactly a month later, Goodyear married Margaret Yvonne Groll in Carson City, Ormsby, NV. Margaret was a native of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada born of American parents. Her father, George Groll, was born in Marion, Linn, Iowa and was an acquaintance of the Goodyear and Oxley families. The Grolls moved from Marion to Canada at the end of WWI. Then from Canada to Mill Valley, Marin, CA about 1923.
Don and Margaret's honeymoon was very brief, for on 20 Nov 1941, Lt Goodyear received orders to report to the troop ship, USS Republic (AP-33) for transport to the Philippines (USAT Republic was taken over by the Navy and commissioned as USS Republic (AP-33) on 22 July 1941.)). She steamed out of San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge the day after Thanksgiving, 21 Nov 1941 bound for Manila, Philippines via Pearl Harbor. Her passengers comprise some 2,666 Army Air Force personnel including forty-eight pursuit pilots of the 35th PG along with aircraft shipped disassembled in crates. After steaming a week, the Republic moored at Honolulu on 28 Nov 1941. Republic steamed out of Pearl Harbor on the 29th joining seven other ships. She assumed the role of flagship for a convoy bound for the Philippines escorted by the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24).
That convoy, generally known as the Pensacola Convoy (Army sources may use the term Republic convoy) was designated Task Group 15.5. Pensacola's convoy comprised the gunboat USS Niagara; the U.S. Navy transports USS Republic and USS Chaumont; the U.S. Army transport ships USAT Willard A. Holbrook (on board were thirty-nine newly graduated but unassigned pilots) and USAT Meigs; the U.S. merchant ships Admiral Halstead and Coast Farmer; and the Dutch merchant ship Bloemfontein on which were eighteen crated Curtiss P-40 fighter planes of the 35th PG (Interceptor). The convoy was intended to reinforce United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), created to defend the U.S. Commonwealth of the Philippines and commanded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
On 6 December the convoy crossed the equator celebrating the largest Army Shellback initiation up to that time. The following day the convoy commander received word that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and Guam forcing the convoy to divert first to Suva in the Fiji Islands. Underway from Suva on 16 Dec, the convoy steamed to Brisbane, Australia where it arrived on 22 Dec 1941. The Republic began disembarking her passengers and unloading her cargo on the 23rd to a rousing welcome by many of the local Aussies.
The incoming US Army personnel were temporarily billeted at the Brisbane Ascot race track where 2-4 men tents were set-up. Living conditions for most were primitive at best. Some of the pilots ventured into Brisbane and managed to secure much more comfortable quarters. The primary focus for the army personnel, however, was unloading the crated P-40s in order to quickly begin assembling them. Once that was completed the urgency was to get pilots into the air and begin training so that planes and pilots could be transferred to the Philippines to reinforce USAFFE. Unfortunately, bureaucratic snafus, harsh environmental conditions, shortage of maintenance personnel, and wrong or no assembly parts conspired to impede the objective. In some cases, pilots had to assemble their planes themselves. However, even after assembly, many aircraft could not be flown because of a shortage of Prestone coolant for the engines. Stateside slipshod on-loading became the focus of blame. The Prestone had not been shipped with the aircraft. Fortunately, the Australian air corps and local supplies helped to mitigate the problem.
The 35th PG planned to begin training of its P-40 pilots on 2 Jan 42, however, there were far more rookie pilots than there were aircraft to fly. As January wore on training opportunities improved with the assembly of more aircraft. So to did the living quarters as most pilots moved to officer's quarters at Amberley Field.
By 08 Feb 42, Lt Goodyear had transferred to the 33rd Pursuit Squadron. Lt Goodyear was one of a group of thirty-two P-40 Pursuit pilots from the 13th and 33rd Pursuit Squadrons (Provisional), 35th PG, ordered to Tjilatjap, Java to help provide fighter support to the Dutch and Allied forces attempting to repel the invading Japanese forces. On 22 Feb 1942, they embarked with 12 enlisted crew chiefs/Armorers on board the seaplane tender USS Langley (AV-3) at Fremantle, Australia. Hoisted on board the same day were thirty-two ready-to-fly P40s. The Langley, normally crewed by about 500 men, departed Fremantle later that day and steamed initially toward Burma and India, but Langley was soon redirected toward the port of Tjilatjap on Java where she was scheduled to arrive on 28 Feb.
At 0700 on the morning of 27 Feb, Langley rendezvoused with her anti-submarine destroyer escorts USS Whipple (DD-217) and USS Edsall (DD-219) about 100 miles from her destination. Two hours later, Langley and her escorts were spotted by an enemy reconnaissance plane. Shortly before 1200, sixteen (16) Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bombers of the Japanese 21st and 23rd Naval Air Flotillas and escorted by fifteen (15) A6M Reisen fighters began attacking Langley. She was about 70 miles from her destination. Langley was initially successful in dodging the falling ordinance, but eventually she was hit by multiple bombs sustaining fatal damage. At 1332, Langley's CO, CDR Robert P. McConnell, concluded that the ship was lost and ordered her abandoned. Within thirty minutes all of the survivors had been plucked from the sea by Whipple (308 officers and men including Lt Smith) and Edsall (177 officers and men).
At 1428, Whipple fired nine 4-inch rounds into Langley's hull. She then fired one torpedo (exploded) into the port side and then one into the starboard side of Langley. The last torpedo exploded causing a large fire. Because of the danger of another air attack, the two destroyers cleared the area, however, no one actually saw the Langley slide beneath the waves.
On 28 February, the two destroyers rendezvoused with the fuel replenishment ship USS Pecos (AO-6) off Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island some 250 miles southwest of Tjilatjap. Prior to the arrival of Pecos, Whipple transferred 32 pilots/airmen, including Lt Smith, to Edsall. A sudden attack by land based Japanese bombers forced Edsall and the other ships to head for the open sea and postpone survivor transfers to Pecos.
The ships headed directly south into the Indian Ocean for the rest of 28 February in high winds and heavy seas. Early in the pre-dawn hours of 1 March, Whipple and Edsall transferred all the Langley survivors to Pecos. There were now close to 700 personnel aboard the oiler. Whipple then set off for Cocos Islands as protection for the tanker Belita sent to meet her there. The Pecos, carrying a large number of survivors was ordered to Australia. Edsall had retained 32 USAAF personnel from Langley needed to assemble and fly an additional 27 P-40E fighters shipped to Tjilatjap aboard the transport Sea Witch. Edsall was instructed to return these "fighter crews" to Tjilatjap. At 0830, she reversed course and headed back to the northeast for Java.
At noon that day, planes from Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu attacked Pecos and struck her again an hour later. Finally, in mid-afternoon, third and fourth strikes from carriers Hiryu and Akagi fatally wounded the Pecos. While under attack, Pecos radioed for help. After Pecos sank, Whipple returned to the scene intentionally arriving after dark. She eventually rescued 232 survivors. Many other survivors, although visible to crewmembers on board Whipple, had to be abandoned at sea because Whipple made sonar contact with what was believed to be several Japanese submarines. It was just too dangerous for her to remain in the area.
Edsall may have heard Pecos' call for help. Maybe she was following orders not to proceed to Java but steam south to Australia. In any case, Edsall reversed her northerly course and was never heard from again. Mr and Mrs Frank L. Johnson were informed by the war department that their son, Lt Bennett Lee Johnson, 27, a pursuit pilot attached to the U.S.S. Langley was reported missing by the Navy Department on 4 April 1942. His remains were unrecoverable. He was presumed dead on 25 Dec 1945.
On 6 Apr 42, Mr and Mrs George S. Goodyear of Omaha, NE., were notified by telegram that their son Lt Donovan G. Goodyear was missing in the service of his country. On 11 August 42, The Johnsons were notified by the US War Department that 2d Lt Donovan G. Goodyear was among 31 officers and 12 enlisted men who were lost on board the aircraft tender Langley in the Java sea battle.
Lt Goodyear was posthumously awarded the US Army Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star and the World War II Victory Medal.
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The family also received a commemoration from then President Harry S. Truman. It reads: "In Grateful Memory of Second Lieutenant Donovan G. Goodyear who died in the service of his country in the Pacific Area, 01 March 1942. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase it blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
//s//
Harry S Truman
President of the United States of America
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After WWII ended, an Allied War Crimes Tribunal was convened in Java in 1946. During the investigation it was learned from an eyewitness that allied POWs had been executed by the Japanese in early 1942. The witness provided the location of the massacre. The remains of six sailors were identified by their ID tags as members of the crew of USS Edsall (DD-219). Their remains were returned home for burial.
Because no known survivors lived to tell the Edsall''s story after the war, the details surrounding her sinking remained largely a mystery for more than a half century. Finally, after years of research, historians compiled a partial story of Edsall''s last hours, but it was not until Japanese records and eyewitnesses became available that the full story was revealed.
It was an epic battle of heroic proportion involving the aging Edsall and one of the world's strongest naval forces of its day. After Edsall reversed her course on 01 Mar 1942 and steamed away from Java, she stumbled upon Admiral Nagumo's battle force, Kido Butai, that had been prowling the Indian Ocean in search of enemy shipping. Unfortunately, Edsall was spotted first. She was initially misidentified as a Marblehead class light cruiser. IJN battleships Hiei and Kirishima and heavy cruisers Tone and Chikuma were directed to attack Edsall with surface gunfire. Edsall began evasive maneuvers, frustrating the Japanese for the next hour and half. Ducking in and out of her smoke screen and rain squalls, Edsall successfully avoided a fatal strike. However, because of the damage done previously to one of her propeller shafts, Edsall was unable to make top speed or maneuver fully. At one point Edsall turned and launched her torpedoes narrowly missing Chikuma. The Japanese ships fired 1400 rounds resulting in only one or two hits. The frustrated Admiral Nagumo called upon his carriers to finish off Edsall. She was attacked by dive-bombers from two Japanese carriers (Kaga, Soryu,) and possibly a third (Hiryu) before succumbing to their devastating attacks. The Edsall went down at 1731 hours, 430 miles south of Java.
It was learned in 1946 that at least six Edsall crew had survived the sinking. Many years later, however, Japanese eyewitnesses on board Chikuma confirmed that at least eight Edsall crewmen from a large number of survivors were fished out of the water and brought on board the Chikuma. The rest of the survivors were left to their fate in the water. Chikuma and the rest of the battle force arrived at Staring Bay anchorage, Celebes on 11 Mar 1942.
Three dozen POWs, at least 8 from the Edsall (possibly five more may have been Army Air Force personnel) and the remainder from a Dutch ship, were turned over to the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces based at Kendari where they were executed by beheading on 24 Mar 1942 near Kendari II airfield, Netherland East Indies. Five of the six confirmed Edsall survivors who were executed are buried in a common grave at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis, MO with five unknowns who were recovered near the Edsall five. Apparently several of the unknowns wore what looked like khaki uniforms. The grave of the sixth known Edsall crewman who survived and was executed was reburied at the request of his next of kin in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI.
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References
1). Barch, William H. Every Day a Nightmare: American pursuit pilots in the defense of Java, 1942-1943. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2010.
2). Cox, Jeffery R. Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II. Oxbury, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2014.
3). Kehn, Donald M. Jr. In the Highest Degree Tragic: The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies during World War II. Potomac Book is an imprint of the University of Nebraska, 2017.
4). Kehn, Donald M. Jr. A Blue Sea of Blood: Deciphering the Mysterious Fate of the USS Edsall. Minneapolis, MN, Zenith Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, 2008.
5). Messimer, Dwight R. Pawns of War: The Loss of the USS Langley and the USS Pecos. Annapolis, Maryland, Naval Institute Press, 1983.
6). Ancestry.com. Various US Census reports, 1900-1950. Online databases. Retrieved: 19 April – 23 April 2023.
7). Newspapers.com. Various news articles in Nebraska newspaper. On line databases. Retrieved: 19 April – 24 April 2023.
8). Ancestry.com. Tomahawk 1936, Municipal University of Omaha, Nebraska. Yearbooks database online. Retrieved: 20 April 2023.
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[Bio #417 composed on 29 Apr 2023 by Gerry Lawton (GML470)\
Military Hall of Honor ID# 138861
Find A Grave Memorial #141690172
Inscription
Missing In Action South China Sea.
Gravesite Details
A cenotaph only. George MIA in Indian Ocean not South China Sea.
Family Members
Siblings
