USS ASTORIA CA-34
The Official Home of 'Nasty Asty'
In Memoriam: Shipmates on Eternal Watch
A view from the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Luzon, Philippine Islands. The names of the men lost at Savo Island are recorded on these tablets.
-American Battle Monuments Commission photograph
The official casualty data for USS ASTORIA CA-34 at Savo Island reflects 216 killed, 186 wounded. Accurately listing these losses is another matter altogether.
Documentation from the immediate aftermath of the Savo tragedy reflected the names of 247 men killed or missing. These names were compiled under the worst possible circumstances--aboard multiple ships from the memory of survivors while steaming away from the Guadalcanal area. The resulting list was later compared to the June 1942 ASTORIA Muster Roll resulting in multiple corrections. It was September before the families of the fallen began to be notified.
While the number of killed and missing continues to be propagated as 216 officers and men, this number is not accurate. Even the final list circulated among shipmates in later years was incomplete.
In creating the USS ASTORIA website, I have meticulously compared the original 1942 documentation to the names and data recorded by the American Battle Monuments Commission. With a level of accuracy previously unavailable, listed below are the names of 234 shipmates killed, missing and declared dead.
These 234 men came from states across the Union and American territories. Their backgrounds were diverse, as were their motivations for joining the United States Navy and Marine Corps. They spoke with regional accents, differed in the color of their skin, and expressed their religious beliefs in different ways.
In spite of their diversity, they all had one thing in common:
These 234 men gave their lives in service of their country at Savo Island, 9 August 1942.
Key
KIA Killed in Action
DFW Died From Wounds
MIA DD Missing in Action, Declared Dead
USS ASTORIA CA-34 HONOR ROLL
Officers
| Andres, Eric T. | ENS | Illinois | KIA | |
| Amick, Eugene E. Jr. | ENS | Missouri | KIA | |
| Campbell, Joseph E. | ENS | Indiana | KIA | |
| Carroll, Herbert F., Jr. | LT | North Carolina | KIA | |
| Eaton, William G. | LCDR | Minnesota | KIA | |
| Gunason, Robert W. | LT(jg.) | Arizona | KIA | |
| Harris, Thomas F. | ENS | Missouri | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Hemminger, Cyril F. | ENS | California | KIA | |
| Kretchmer, Raymond J. | ENS | South Dakota | KIA | |
| Kyne, Elden F. | ENS | Nebraska | KIA | |
| Long, Frank M. Jr. | ENS | Virginia | KIA | |
| McCloy, Russell G. | LT | Washington | DFW 12 Aug 1942 | |
| McLaughlin, Arthur R. | LT | California | KIA | |
| McNulty, John T. | LT(jg.) | Pennsylvania | KIA | |
| Martin, Luther C. | CARP (WO) | Indiana | KIA | |
| Nock, Walter P. Jr. | ENS | Maryland | KIA | |
| O’Reilly, Edward J. | LT | Illinois | KIA | |
| Strickland, Everett C. | ENS | New Jersey | KIA | |
| Thompson, George W. | LT(jg.) | Pennsylvania | KIA | |
| Whitehurst, Henry P. | ENS | North Carolina | KIA | |
| Young, Rogers K. | ENS | New York | KIA |
Enlisted Men
| Ables, Charles G. | S2/c | Colorado | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 |
|
| Abraham, Louis I. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Adamini, Paul D. | S1/c | New Jersey | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Anctil, Paul E. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Anderson, Edwin L. | F3/c | Missouri | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Anderson, Francis E. | S1/c | Idaho | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Bachman, John M. | S1/c | Pennsylvania | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Baer, John B. | S2/c | Texas | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Bard, Henry J. | S1/c | Massachusetts | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Barnes, Turner | F1/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Baugh, William B. | F1/c | Texas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Baxter, Olan C. | S2/c | Texas | KIA | |
| Baxtrom, Charles J. | PVT (USMC) | Illinois | KIA | |
| Beauchamp, Gerald W. | S2/c | California | KIA | |
| Beauchesne, Paul M. | S1/c | Massachusetts | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Behle, John A. | F2/c | Pennsylvania | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Bengel, John W. | MM1/c | Pennsylvania | KIA | |
| Benson, Robert G. | SM3/c | Wyoming | KIA | |
| Berkman, Manny | GSGT (USMC) | California | KIA | |
| Biernacki, Stanley A. | S2/c | New York | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Billups, Charles L. | S2/c | California | KIA | |
| Biondo, Vincent | S2/c | Missouri | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Blay, Charles C. | S2/c | California | KIA | |
| Blocher, Harold V. | COX | Kansas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Boatwright, Fred Jr. | SC3/c | Iowa | KIA | |
| Bomberg, William E. | F1/c | Colorado | KIA | |
| Bradshaw, Dolph B. | F1/c | Michigan | KIA | |
| Breneman, Dale H. | MM2/c | Ohio | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Brewer, Floyd D. | S1/c | Texas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Britton, Francis G. | PVT (USMC) | Oklahoma | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Brock, Louis A. | RM3/c | California | KIA | |
| Brom, Leo F. | CQM | Iowa | KIA | |
| Brown, Alva E. | S2/c | Kansas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Brown, Harold E. | MM1/c | Michigan | KIA | |
| Burtin, Verda | S1/c | Missouri | KIA | |
| Byrkett, Charles R. | S2/c | Washington | KIA | |
| Calder, Howard T. | WT1/c | Missouri | KIA | |
| Caraway, James O. | RM1/c | Florida | KIA | |
| Carroll, Charles L. | SC1/c | Washington | KIA | |
| Carwile, Lavner C. | S1/c | Texas | KIA | |
| Casey, Kenneth E. | SCk2/c | Iowa | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Chandler, Albert C. | S2/c | Oregon | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Cheney, Gayle T. | F1/c | California | KIA | |
| Collett, Harry D. | F2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Colton, Myron D. | Bkr2/c | Idaho | KIA | |
| Collins, David H. Jr. | S2/c | Missouri | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Collins, Marvin R. | WT2/c | Iowa | KIA | |
| Collins, Robert R. | GM2/c | Washington | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Cone, Robert R. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Contreras, Donald F. | S2/c | California | KIA | |
| Cook, Theodore R. | StewM1/c | Alabama | KIA | |
| Cramer, Louis G. | MM2/c | Nebraska | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Crane, James C. | S1/c | Utah | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Cribbin, Andrew J. | S1/c | Missouri | KIA | |
| Dalton, Marlin C. | S2/c | Idaho | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Dashukawich, William | EM1/c | New York | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Dawson, Thomas C. | CWT | California | KIA | |
| Devitt, John W. | FldCk (USMC) | Louisiana | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Dietz, John | Y3/c | New York | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Dietz, William G. | S2/c | Missouri | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Dinovo, Frank J. | B3/c | Nebraska | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Driscol, Everett R. | CGM | California | KIA | |
| Drummond, Darrell M. | QM3/c | Washington | KIA | |
| Duffy, Warren F. | WT2/c | Washington | KIA | |
| Edwards, Robert W. | F1/c | South Carolina | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Englert, Thomas W. | SF2/c | Colorado | KIA | |
| Erikson, Carmen A. | GM2/c | North Dakota | KIA | |
| Espinoza, Alexander | S1/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Fallis, George D. | EM3/c | Texas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Foreman, William C. | ACRM | New York | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Fox, Leston C. | GM3/c | Texas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Fraaken, Kenneth C. | PFC (USMC) | Iowa | KIA | |
| Gallagher, Thomas B. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Gerle, George T. | S1/c | Arizona | KIA | |
| Ghan, Gwyn | PhM3/c | Iowa | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Gladden, Samuel R. | CRM | Missouri | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Goshorn, Jason L. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Green, Morgan D. | GM2/c | Texas | KIA | |
| Hampton, Charles R. | AMM2/c | Oklahoma | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hardie, Peter D. | GM3/c | California | DFW 10 Aug 1942 | |
| Harmon, Frank S. | S2/c | Wyoming | KIA | |
| Harris, Ernest C. Jr. | GM3/c | Louisiana | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hart, William L. | AMM2/c | California | KIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Haws, Laird J. | S2/c | California | KIA | |
| Hayden, Harold D. | COX | Kentucky | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hayes, Joseph A. | MM2/c | Kentucky | KIA | |
| Henderson, Leonard T. | EM2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hicks, Earl Jr. | EM2/c | North Carolina | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hill, Byron L. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hodges, Jesse R. Jr. | SC3/c | Oklahoma | KIA | |
| Holden, Guy E. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hoots, Elvin H. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hord, Joplin C. | SGT MAJ (USMC) | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hornung, Edward F. | S2/c | Kentucky | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Hughes, William E.M. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Isbell, Charlie B. | Bkr3/c | Alabama | DFW 11 Aug 1942 | |
| Ives, Clarence H. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Jackson, George A. | S2/c | Illinois | KIA | |
| Jameson, Herman D. | CCStd | Hawaii | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Jessup, William G. | S1/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Johns, Albert | F1/c | Florida | KIA | |
| Johnson, Raymond L. | S2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Kane, Bernard J. | S1/c | Wisconsin | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Knapp, James A. | S2/c | Illinois | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Koci, Edward J. | F1/c | Nebraska | KIA | |
| Kroeger, Dale W. | S1/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Kust, Wencel W. | PFC (USMC) | Illinois | KIA | |
| Lake, Marion O. | S2/c | Missouri | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| LaPaugh, Willis D. | S1/c | Michigan | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Larson, Joseph E. | F1/c | Wyoming | KIA | |
| Latino, Michael E. | SCk2/c | Louisiana | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Lee, Lester | S2/c | Nevada | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Leggett, Robert W. | S1/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Lejeune, Pierre C. | F3/c | California | KIA | |
| Lesnau, Jacob F. | CMM | California | KIA | |
| Lessard, Girard J. | S1/c | New Hampshire | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Lewis, Parmer N. | TC1/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Limer, Charles R. | CWT | West Virginia | KIA | |
| Lindergren, Robert R. | F2/c | New York | KIA | |
| Livingston, Kenneth A. | F1/c | Rhode Island | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Livingston, Shirley S. | F1/c | Oregon | KIA | |
| Loiselle, Alexander J. | F1/c | Nebraska | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Long, John D. | AMM2/c | Georgia | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Long, Robert L. | RM2/c | Ohio | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Loomer, Forest C. | S2/c | Washington | KIA | |
| Lough, Lawrence G. | S1/c | Texas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Lucas, Henry A. | ARM1/c | Texas | KIA | |
| McAnney, Victor E. | Bkr1/c | New Jersey | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| McCann, Arthur L. Jr. | MM2/c | Virginia | KIA | |
| McCormick, Charles N. | S2/c | Missouri | KIA | |
| McCullough, Phillip | Bkr3/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| McDonald, Theo C. | F1/c | Texas | KIA | |
| McGrath, James F. | EM3/c | Massachusetts | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| McLaren, William M. | S1/c | Washington | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| McNallen, Charles L. Jr. | RM3/c | California | KIA | |
| Macek, John P. | F2/c | Ohio | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Madigan, Francis J. | S2/c | Missouri | KIA | |
| Mahon, Albert T. | WT2/c | California | KIA | |
| Maiden, Marion G. | CGM | California | KIA | |
| Malloch, Leon R. | S1/c | Massachusetts | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Maloney, Frank E. | SCk2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Mangrum, Robert P. | StewM1/c | Texas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Martell, Robert H. | S1/c | New York | KIA | |
| Martin, Earl F. | EM1/c | Pennsylvania | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Masters, Franklin R. | MM1/c | Maryland | KIA | |
| Meithof, Charles H. | F1/c | Oregon | KIA | |
| Miles, George E. | S1/c | Minnesota | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Miles, Robert J. | S1/c | Idaho | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Mitchell, Elvin E. | GM1/c | Oklahoma | KIA | |
| Monahan, Charles A. | GM3/c | Missouri | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Moon, Roy N. | S2/c | Indiana | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Moore, Leonard E. | S2/c | Iowa | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Moran, Jean J. | S2/c | Missouri | KIA | |
| Morearty, Edward F. | Bkr2/c | Nebraska | KIA | |
| Morgan, Jack M. | S1/c | Texas | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Morley, Keith H. | S2/c | Virginia | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Morris, Eugene F. | S2/c | Kentucky | KIA | |
| Morrow, Eugene C. | PhM3/c | Oregon | KIA | |
| Mudd, George P. | CBM | Missouri | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Myers, Floyd Jr. | RM2/c | Ohio | KIA | |
| Neal, Robert | S2/c | Texas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Ocop, Dimas | OCk1/c | Philippines | KIA | |
| Ogburn, Lloyd E. | GM3/c | Illinois | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Osborn, Edward S. | CCM | California | KIA | |
| Pack, William D. | CMM | South Dakota | KIA | |
| Palmer, Gerald S. | PhM3/c | Kansas | KIA | |
| Peaston, Elmer F. | AMM3/c | Connecticut | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Phillips, John H. | MessAtt2/c | Mississippi | KIA | |
| Pottratz, Stanley A. | FC3/c | Oregon | KIA | |
| Priest, James S. | S2/c | Arizona | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Prince, Dallas S. | GM3/c | Texas | KIA | |
| Privett, Sherman | COX | Kentucky | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Prusaski, Joseph F. | BM2/c | Hawaii | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Quallen, Charles N. | AM3/c | Ohio | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Rainwater, Robert D. | S2/c | Tennessee | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Ray, Harry F. | CMM | Hawaii | KIA | |
| Raymond, Warner | SF3/c | New York | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Reese, Frank | WT1/c | Hawaii | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Reimel, Blaine C. | S1/c | Pennsylvania | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Rice, John M. | COX | Kentucky | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Rivera, Roque R. | S1/c | New York | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Self, Lee J. | S2/c | Georgia | KIA | |
| Sells, Orville C. | MM1/c | Colorado | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Shaffer, Henry F. | ARM1/c | Pennsylvania | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Slater, Lavern A. | S1/c | Iowa | KIA | |
| Smith, Duward L. | S2/c | Texas | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Smith, Marion M. | MM2/c | Illinois | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Smith, Robert L. | S2/c | Indiana | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Smock, Earl F. | GM3/c | Oklahoma | KIA | |
| Starmer, Victor W. | BM2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Sullivan, Kenneth L. | SK3/c | Kentucky | KIA | |
| Swanson, Charles W. | SCk1/c | Hawaii | KIA | |
| Thamer, George F. | S1/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Todd, Joseph V. | ARM3/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Tolley, Robert R. | SCk2/c | Ohio | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Tradewell, Thomas H. | SF1/c | Washington | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Vineskey, Edmond A. | S2/c | Ohio | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Walling, Lowell A. | S1/c | Oregon | DFW 11 Aug 1942 | |
| Walton, Harold E. | F2/c | Texas | KIA | |
| Ware, Weldon W. | GM3/c | Texas | KIA | |
| Watkins, Joseph F. | MM2/c | California | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Watkins, Lewis A. | BM1/c | Indiana | DFW 10 Aug 1942 | |
| Weaver, Woodrow | BM1/c | Oregon | KIA | |
| Weickum, Henry | SCk2/c | Colorado | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Wilkins, Fredrick J. | CBM | Illinois | KIA | |
| Wilkinson, Charles B. | S2/c | Mississippi | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Williams, Lloyd E. | M1/c | Nebraska | DFW 9 Aug 1942 | |
| Wood, Donald W. | SK2/c | Michigan | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Wood, William P. | PVT (USMC) | Alabama | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Worley, Frank M. | WT2/c | Iowa | KIA | |
| Wright, Floyd L. | Bkr1/c | North Carolina | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 | |
| Young, Robert B. | CMM | Hawaii | MIA DD 10 Aug 1943 |
One additional USS ASTORIA Sailor listed among the missing in the 1942 documentation could not be verified either as a survivor or missing and declared dead. He could not be positively identified in the records of the American Battle Monuments Commission although his name is present on the final USS ASTORIA Muster Roll.
| Huett, Marvin G. | S2/c | MIA |
Defying The Odds
Two sailors originally listed among the missing survived the ordeal against all odds. MM2/c Ernest B. Christensen and AOM3/c Norman W. LeRoy were left behind when the U.S. Navy left Guadalcanal on 9 August 1942. Days later they were discovered floating in a life raft.
Both remained regular attendees of USS ASTORIA reunions 50 years later.
Ships of DesRon 12 perform S-turns in respect for those lost as they pass through Iron Bottom Sound in 1944. This became standard practice for U.S. Navy ships passing over the site of the battle once the Solomons were in American control. In the background is Savo Island.
-U.S. Navy photo in NARA Collection 80-G-220760
"I woke alone on a desolate shore
From a dream not sound or sweet
But there in the sands in the moonlight
Were the marks of phantom feet."
-Father Walter A. Mahler
Chaplain, USS ASTORIA
If you can provide additional information or photographs of the Sailors and Marines listed on this page, please contact me at brentj@mighty90.com.
Sources
American Battle Monuments Commission. http://www.abmc.gov/home.php
Department of Veterans Affairs Grave Locator. http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov
Jones, Brent. Private document collection.
National Archives and Records Administration. http://www.archives.gov/research/.
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