Indiana Military in Manila American Cemetery, |
||||||
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 |