Indiana Military in Manila American Cemetery,
Luzon Island, Manila Philippines

Courtesy of David Dwiggins

Read his story at the bottom

Name

Branch

Unit

Home

Service No

Date of Death

Grave Location

Abbott, Earl Austin

USN

Seaman First Class

Madison

2917361

Oct 26, 1942

Missing or buried at Sea

Adkins, Bruce

USN

Seaman Second Class

Grant

2916786

Feb 04, 1942

Plot A Row 7 Grave 16

Ainslie, Edgar S.

USAAF

Tech 5 HQ Base F

Tippecanoe

15312764

Apr 11, 1944

Plot L Row 10 Grave 81

Allen, KellyPVT

USA

21st Inf Rgmt, 24th Inf Div

Boone

35820394

Jul 14, 1945

Plot H Row 1 Grave 98

Bailey, James M. Jr.

USN

Machinist’s Mate, 3rd Class

Jay

2915845

Aug 10, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Baker, Feltner

USNR

Seaman First Class

Jennings

6344702

Aug 14, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Barnard, James F.

USNR

Ensign

Montgomery

0-315504

May 27, 1944

Plot F Row 1 Grave 31

Basey, John S.

USN

Fireman Second Class

Shelby

9558081

Oct 25, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Beechy, Sidney R.

USNR

Aviation Ordnanceman 2C

Howard

6278190

Jan 24, 1945

Plot H Row 3 Grave 99

Beerwert, Dilman J.   SSGT

USAAF

63rd Bombr Sq 43rd Bomb Gp Hvy

Whitley

15059026

Dec 17, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Beery, Delbert V. CPL

USAAF

820th Medical Air Eva Sq

Wabash

35093544

Jul 10, 1945

Plot B Row 11 Grave 150

Berauer, Wilbur F.

USNR

Lieutenant Jr Grade

Shelby

0-101587

Nov 25, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Beuoy, Lester E. PFC

USA

63rd Inf Rgmt, 6th Inf Div

Delaware

35364003

Jan 15, 1945

Plot D Row 9 Grave 203

Blair, Edward W.  SSGT

USA

151st Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Bartholomew

20530283

May 08, 1945

Plot D Row 8 Grave 116

Bohman, Carl V. Capt.

USAAF

41st Fgtr SQ, 35th Fgtr Grp

Rush

0-667638

Aug 05, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Boice, William F. CAPT

USA

126th Inf Rgmt, 32nd Inf Div

Howard

0-226890

Dec 19, 1942

Plot A Row 8 Grave 120

Briggs, Mark H. SGT

USAAF

320th Bomber Sq 90th Bomber Gp

Howard

15059395

Oct 16, 1943

Plot D Row 4 Grave 171

Brown, Wendell W.  PVT

USA

126th Inf Rgmt, 32nd Inf Div

Blackford

35251505

Dec 19, 1942

Missing or buried at sea

Butler, Oliver B.  SSGT

USA

124th Inf, 31st Division

Ohio

35009892

Aug 05, 1944

Plot D Row 12 Grave 86

Butler, Woodrow W. Sr. PFC

USA

35th Inf Rgmt, 25th Inf Div

Clark

35601685

Feb 04, 1945

Plot D Row 13 Grave 109

Calabria, Sam Jr.

USN

Seaman Second Class

Madison

2918187

Nov 14, 1943

Missing or buried at Sea

Campbell, Charles Wayne  PVT

USA

152nd Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Grant

35175756

Feb 01, 1945

Plot N Row 3 Grave 67

Carmichael, Dale M. Sgt

USAAF

24th Cmbt Map Sq 8th Photog Grp

Delaware

35564222

Mar 18, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Carroll, William E. PVT

USA

129th Inf Rgmt, 37th Inf Div

Allen

37160076

Mar 26, 1944

Plot D Row 4 Grave 103

Chandler, Joseph E  1LT

USA

371st Bombr Sq, 307 Bomb Grp

Henry

0-768936

Feb 27, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Ciscell, Robert E.   SSGT

USAAF

408th Bombr Sq 22nd Bomb Gp HY

Randolph

6665112

Oct 10, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Clark, Paul T.  PVT

USAAF

409th Signal, Aviation

Hancock

19017801

Jul 16, 1942

Missing or buried at sea

Clouser, J.A.SGT

USAAF

870th Bombr Sq, 497th Bomb Gp

Randolph

35364631

Aug 29, 1945

Plot E Row 1 Grave 41

Comer, William P.

USN

Seaman First Class

Lake

2934075

Feb 16, 1945

Plot D Row 11 Grave 231

Compliment, George H.

USNR

Seaman First Class

Delaware

6279703

Jul 24, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Cook, Clarence E.  2LT

USAAF

26th Photo Sq, 6th Recon Grp

Madison

0-931079

Apr 27, 1945

Plot D Row 13 Grave 230

Cook, James E.  SSGT

USA

126th Inf Rgmt, 32 Inf Div

Blackford

35251512

Mar 05, 1945

Plot A Row 14 Grave 85

Creed, Claude S. Tech 5th CL

USA

5209th Engineer Group

Shelby

35098215

Nov 03, 1944

Plot N Row 5 Grave 22

Crouch, Maurice I.  2LT

USAAF

33rd Bombr Sq 22nd Bomb Gp Hvy

Tipton

0-714558

Nov 27, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Dierking, Raymond A.

USN

Chief Electricians Mate

Clark

2870346

Dec 11, 1942

Plot D Row 12 Grave 90

Dugan, Elden D.  SSGT

USA

152nd Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Hamilton

20533259

Feb 14, 1945

Plot A Row 2 Grave 6

Eaves, Walter Charles

MS

USMM

Merchant Seaman

Z-419545

Dec 01, 1944

Plot A Row 16 Grave 200

Fear Delbert R.

USA

Signal Air Warning

Starke

15062002

Jun 27, 1942

Plot B Row 8 Grave 16

Fesler, William R.  1LT

USAAF

25th Bombr Sq 40th Bomb Gp Hvy

Madison

15095496

Feb 01, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Fields, Kester C.  PFC

USA

152nd Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Madison

20533287

Feb 01, 1945

Plot B Row 1 Grave 118

Fooks, Henry Lemyel  PFC

USMC

Private First Class

Delaware

913316

Sep 15, 1944

Plot G Row 5 Grave 41

Foreman, Buddy W.  PFC

USA

32nd Inf Rgmt, 7th Inf Div

Howard

35576082

Oct 23, 1944

Plot B Row 8 Grave 122

Fox, Richard A.  SSGT

USA

151st Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Vigo

20531156

Apr 20, 1945

Plot D Row 6 Grave 115

Fuelling, Harold F.   SSGT

USA

152nd Inf, 38th Inf Div

Adams

35176624

May 18, 1945

Plot L Row 17 Grave 98

Graul, Donald P.   PFC

USA

785th Tank Battalion

Delaware

35148470

Sep 26, 1945

Plot A Row 3 Grave 203

Gross, Kenneth L.  PVT

USA

27th Inf reg, 25th inf Div

Marshall

35908924

May 6, 1945

Plot A Row 8 Grave 113

Guest, William S.  PFC

USA

1st Inf Rgmt, 6th Inf Div

Lake

35365626

Jan 26, 1945

Plot D Row 15 Grave 134

Gwinn, Kenneth L.

USN

Chief Torpedoman’s Mate

Henry

2912324

Jan 19, 1946

Missing or buried at sea

Hale, William J.  SGT

USA

35th Inf Rgmt, 25th Inf Div

Howard

15359626

Sep 30, 1945

Plot D Row 1 Grave 230

Halstead, Glen E.

USNR

Radioman Third Class

Randolph

2932017

May 25, 1946

Missing or buried at sea

Harbit, Garner E.   PFC

USMC

Private First Class

Madison

840615

Sep 18, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Harley, Richard H    SGT

USA

503rd Parachute Inf Rgmt

Whitley

15060031

Feb 24, 1945

Plot N Row 12 Grave 176

Herrin, Hollis E.

USN

Seaman First Class

Boone

2799735

Mar 23, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Highbaugh, Carter  TEC 5

USA

506th Port Battalion

Marion

35145886

Nov 18, 1945

Plot A Row 15 Grave 100

Hopper, Robt L      PVT

USA

321st Engr Cbt Bat 96th Div

Cass

35563962

Dec 06, 1944

Plot B Row 15 Grave 154

Hornaday, Warren G.   Capt

USAAF

6th Night Fighter SQ

Henry

0-424954

May 07, 1943

Missing or buried at sea

Hostetler, Joseph O.PFC

USMC

Private First Class

Elkhart

0-336841

Nov 20, 1943

Plot D Row 16 Grave 86

Hough, Paul G  

USNR

Fireman First Class

Jay

6230466

Apr 08, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Houseman, Harry L.

USMC

Private First Class

Grant

0-450074

Nov 07, 1943

Plot D Row 13 Grave 118

Howard, David E.  2LT

USAAF

499th Bomber Sq, 345th Bomb Gp

Clark

0-770532

Jun 06, 1945

Plot D Row 12 Grave 95

Hubbard, Robert E.  Tech 5C

USA

511th Para Inf Rmt 11th AirbDiv

Blackford

35697023

Nov 05, 1944

Plot D Row 2 Grave 233

Huntley, William W.

USN

Seaman Second Class

Madison

2916303

Nov 25, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Johnson, Robert F.   SSGT

USAAF

23rd Bombr Sq, 5th Bomb Gp Hvy

Grant

35141426

Nov 01, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Kaiser, Robert O.

USNR

Electricians Mate Third Class

Madison

8639473

Feb 19, 1946

Missing or buried at sea

Kepler, Earl Edward   PVT

USA

60thast Artillery Rgmt

Grant

15061795

May 15, 1943

Plot B Row 6 Grave 134

Kessler, James R.  PFC

USA

161st Inf Rgmt, 25th Inf Div

Wabash

34149027

Jan 28, 1945  

Plot D Row 7 Grave 94

Kimberling, Delbert J. SSGT

USA

151st Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Howard

20531596

Apr 20, 1945

Plot L Row 15 Grave 111

Kindlesparker, Frank F. SSGT

USA

17th Ordnancempany

Wabash

15061475

Jul 02, 1942

Plot N Row 2 Grave 66

Kirkland, Elmer Jebb   1 LT1

USAAF 

498th Bmb Sq,345th Bomb Grp Med

Ohio

0-742587

May 29, 1944

Plot D Row 2 Brave 128 Nph

Kitchen, Ernest Laverne

USN

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class

Adams

8747745

Jun 02, 1946

Missing or buried at sea

Kocher, William G.   SGT

USA

35th Inf Rgmt, 25th Inf Div

Blackford

15043558

Feb 06, 1945

Plot A Row 13 Grave 100

Lacy, Frank R. Jr.  CPL

USMC

Corporal

Madison

819099

Feb 27, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Landauer, Lewis C.   SGT

USAAF

45th Bombr Sq 40th Bomb Gp VHY

Jay

35581525

Jun 15, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Leach, Demas W.

USN

Seaman Second Class

Grant

2917604

Aug 10, 1943

Missing or buried at sea

Ledford, John R.

USNR

Seaman First Class

Madison

8640403

Jan 04, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Lehman, John H.  PVT

USAAF

34th Pursuit Sq, 24th Purs Gp

Grant

15059202

Aug 17, 1942

Plot B Row 14 Grave 16

Libengood, James R.

USN

Quartermaster Third Class

Grant

2917281

Oct 24, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Lutes, Eugene T.

USN

Seaman First Class

Blackford

2915827

Dec 15, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Lytle, Owen E.

USN

Seaman First Class

Tipton

8642191

Jan 04, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Mackmer, Franklin M.PFC

USA

151st Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Wabash

20531029

Feb 10, 1945

Plot A Row 4 Grave 108

Maddox, Glenn J.  2LT

USAAF

90th Bomber Sq 3rd Bomb Gp Ligh

Delaware

0-735620

Jul 23, 1943

Plot D Row 6 Grave 10

Maggart, Charles L.  1LT

USAAF

405th Bombr Sq 38th Bomb Gp Med

Grant

0-430935

Dec 05, 1942

Missing or buried at sea

McKee, Harold R.

USN

Machinist’s Mate 2C

 

2915272

Jan 02, 1944

Plot H Row 9 Grave 108

Meyer, Paul A. PFC

USA

20th Inf Rgmt, 6th Inf Div

Madison

35363777

Jun 23, 1944

Plot F Row 12 Grave 85

Mieth, William Clemens.

USN

Machinist’s Mate Third Class

Delaware

2916220

Dec 15, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Mitchell, Woodrow W.  PFC

USA

224th AntiAircft Searchlig Btn

Delaware

35364002

Apr 10, 1944

Plot D Row 8 Grave 158

Moore, Harold Raymond

USN

Seaman First Class

Grant

2917225

Nov 13, 1942

Missing or buried at sea

Mosier, Robert L.  PFC

USA

152nd Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Madison

20533481

May 04, 1945

Plot N Row 4 Grave 20

Myers, Howard L.   1LT

USAAF

75th Bombr Sq, 42nd Bomb Gp MED

Randolph

0-672174

June 5, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Nading, Paul M.   PFC

USA

20th Inf Rgmt, 6th Inf Div

Bartholomew

35908365

Jun 25, 1945

Plot D Row 4 Grave 205

Neal, Emmit Luther  PFC

USMC

Private First Class

Henry

356347

Sep 18, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Nose, Allen Jacob

USN

Machinist’s Mate Third Class

Grant

6264017

Dec 18, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

O’Neill, Edward W.  PVT

USA

169th Inf Rgmt, 43rd Inf Div

Delaware

35842510

Mar 12, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Peay, Joseph T.  PFC

USA

126th Inf 32 Div

Marion

35251476

Dec 04, 1942

Plot A Row 3 Grave 86

Owens, Thomas Gilbert

USN

Seaman Second Class

Madison

2935362

Dec 11, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Poe, Dale E.PFC

USA

151st Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Shelby.

20530033

May 21, 1945

Plot B Row 13 Grave 109

Ramey, Owen Hugh

USNR

Ensign

Delaware

0-305917

Apr 21, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Reece, Everett Carlos

USN

Seaman Second Class

Grant

8638174

Nov 01, 1944

Plot L Row 6 Grave 64

Rhoads, Donald D.  SGT

USN

530th Bmbr Sq 380th Bomb Gp Hvy

Grant

8635224

Jan 10, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Rice, Homer L. PVT

USA

31st Inf Regiment

Howard

15081833

Apr 29, 1942

Plot F Row 1 Grave 86

Rucker, Thomas, Jr.

USN

Seaman First Class

Madison

2917019

Nov 13, 1942

Missing or buried at sea

Sanderson, Vern V.  PVT

USAAF

803rd Engineer Battal Aviation

Howard

6990647

May 03, 1942

Plot A Row 9 Grave 54

Scecina, Thomas J. 

USA

Chaplain

Marion

0-384964

Oct 24, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Scheidt, Francis E.

USN

Fireman First Class

Bartholomew

6270196

Oct 07, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Schroeder, John D.  PVT

USA

115th Eng cmbt Btln 40th In Div

Madison

35362043

Jan 23, 1945

Plot F Row 10 Grave 41

Sears, Billy D.

USNR

Seaman Second Class

Delaware

2933069

Oct 24, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Sheron, Arthur Lee

USN

Seaman First Class

Grant

2915715

May 08, 1943

Missing or buried at sea

Sills, John E.  SGT

USA

151st Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Blackford

35176387

Feb 08, 1945

Plot L Row 12 Grave 27

Sims, Grady A.

USN

Seaman First Class

Delaware

2934870

Nov 27, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Skaggs, Ralph Leland

USNR

Storekeeper Second Class

Henry

8639582

Oct 26, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Sloan, Winson

USN

Seaman Second Class

Boone

8650401

Oct 03, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Smith, Andrew F.  PVT

USA

Quartermasterrps

Henry

15081768

May 11, 1942

Plot N Row 1 Grave 39

Smith, Reed L. SSGT

USA

151st Inf Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Bartholomew

20530309

Feb 08, 1945

Plot F Row 4 Grave 78

Soliday, John M.  PFC

USA

169th Inf, 43 inf div

Washington

35700617

Mar 06, 1945

Plot A Row 6 Grave 159

Spitler, James P. 2LT

USAAF

35th Fighter Sq, 8th Fighter Gp

Henry

0-758876

Nov 02, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Steele, John W. Jr.  PFC

USMC

Private First Class

Whitley

916336

Sep 15, 1944

Plot L Row 11 Grave 94

Stehman, Donald

USN

Machinist’s Mate Third Class

Hamilton

8636021

Feb 14, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Stevens, Francis H.  PFC

USA

511th Para Inf Rgmt 11th AB Div

Rush

39911111

Dec 15, 1944

Plot F Row 2 Grave 33

Strickler, Dudley G. MAJ

USA

45th Inf Rgmt Philippin Scouts

Henry

0-016898

Feb 08, 1942

Missing or buried at sea

Swain, Eugene C.  TSGT

USAAF

31st Bomber Sq Group, Heavy

Madison

35142152

Mar 07, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Taylor, Keith E.   PVT

USA

17 Ordnancempany

Grant

15061415

Jul 07, 1942

Plot L Row 9 Grave 139

Terry, Robert W.

USNR

Seaman Second Class

Wabash

2940134

Jul 30, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Tharp, Robert L.   PVT

USA

152nd In Rgmt, 38th Inf Div

Howard

35909155

May 19, 1945

Plot C Row 14 Grave 85

Tharp, Ward K.   PFC

USA

60thast Artillery Regiment

Howard

6530038

Mar 23, 1943 

Plot E Row 3 Grave 45

Toney, Charles D.  PFC

USA

27th Infantry, 25th Division

Putnam

35146521

Apr 06, 1945

Plot D Row 5 Grave 103

Turner, Robert Eugene

USNR

Seaman First Class

Delaware

6278949

Jan 07, 1946

Missing or buried at sea

Ulery, Roy Levon

USN

Machinist’s Mate First Class

Madison

6268433

Oct 24, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

Veach, Ralph   rp

USAAF

320th Bombr Sq 90th Bombr Gp Hy

Rush

35255726

Jan 16, 1946

Missing or buried at sea

Vogel, Raymond W. rp

USAAF

8th Fighter Sq 49th Fighter Gp

Hancock

35354417

Nov 08, 1944

Plot H Row 10 Grave 108

Walker, Jack E.  

USN

Radioman Second Class

Madison

6278151

Jul 30, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Weaver, Herbert L. TSGT

USA

152nd Inf reg, 38 Inf Div

Owen

35157594

Mar 11, 1945

Plot A Row 5 Grave 148

Williams, Charles R.   SGT

USAAF

2nd Bomber Sq, 22nd Bomb Gr Hvy

Grant

35900823

Mar 24, 1945

Missing or buried at sea

Wright, Bernard L.   TSGT

USAF

531st Bomb. Sq 380th Bomb Gp Hy

Boone

35357777

Jan 08, 1946

Missing or buried at sea

Young, Maurice J.   Tech 5CL

USA

706th Ordnance, 6th Inf Div

Shelby

35153874

Aug 25, 1944

Missing or buried at sea

 

Months ago my Filipino wife and I visited the Manila American Cemetery where 17,206 American Servicemen lay to rest after dying serving freedom in the South  Pacific during World War II.

 

Most died in battle in  the Philippine Islands while others wasted away in  prison camps and others the Solomon’s, Guadalcanal, New  Guinea, Guam, Okinawa and the Marianas.     Although the beautifully built memorial park resembled the Arlington Nation Cemetery it was gut wrenching to see only a handful of people wandering amongst the  white crosses spread meticulously over the acreage. 

 

They were perhaps employees tending to the grassy memorial. I thought of the heroes that lie in the graves and no doubt their graves had gone unvisited  during all these years. The crosses revealed the dog tag info; name, rank and serial number, but were large enough to include their home state and military unit.    We strolled a few steps to a grave of an Ohio serviceman. I focused my camera on his identity inscribed on the cross.  At that moment the thought of uniting a few photographs of the graves with family members in America occurred to me.

 

My wife, driver and I searched within a few rods and found nine Hoosier gravesites.     My home state name, "Indiana" had always been extra special but today the letters on the crosses seemed bolder than ever. These were Indiana soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. I wanted to weep as the visit transformed from that of a visitor to that of a fellow soldier, brother and neighbor. I was humbled.    

 

At that moment my thoughts turned to the families back in Indiana. The parents had suffered the worst loss that could behold a parent, losing a sibling.  The thought of them being unable to visit the grave was  unthinkable.     

Also at the Manila American Memorial were the "Tablets of the Missing", the names of the servicemen that were still listed as missing in action or buried at sea.    

 

We traveled home and searched the internet for more information about the lives of the men. It was then that our project began. Luckily we were able to locate the county of the servicemen's enlistment. We sent emails to local libraries, genealogy bulletin boards, historical societies, community groups and local  newspapers searching for families still living or  former neighbors that still had contacts with the  family.    

 

We traveled the two hours to Manila once again with a map of Hoosier gravesites from World War II.  We had our digital camera with lots of batteries and spent nearly three hours in the hot sun roaming and  capturing the shots. We now have 134 names of  servicemen buried or honored in the cemetery, mostly  from Central Indiana, and have files on all and we  offer free high quality email photos to all that ask  for them. Approximately half of them are missing in action or buried at sea. Where logistics did not exist for preserving bodies, the heroes were buried at sea  with honors.     

 

In January 2005 only a few weeks after the project started we were able to unite a Shelbyville widow and a daughter that was only a year old when her father  died presenting them a photo of their husband and  father. Another family thought their young serviceman was lost at sea and they find there is a grave for them here. They received a free photo too. These successes give us more energy and silver-line our  project.    

 

We hope the story will touch your heart as it has ours and you will help us find a few families in your area.  If you have any detailed information about these servicemen's military or personal lives please share it with your fellow Americans and preserve their  histories. Photographs of them in their uniforms are great and we would love to have a scanned copy to  personalize our records.      

 

Sincerely,    Dave and Apple Dwiggins 

Author/Historian 

San Pablo City, Philippines

 

   

Or mail to: 

David L. Dwiggins 

55 Balagtas Blvd 

San Pablo City    4000

Philippines    

 

If the valued veteran you are searching for is not on  our list here and you know they died in the South  Pacific, please check the Manila American Cemetery  website. The military information regarding servicemen  from all states including Merchant Marines is located  here.    http://www.abmc.gov/ml.htm

Page last revised 11/30/2008

For Information, contact the originator, Dave Dwiggins
Email Dave Dwiggins