Below is a recap of current projects being worked on, those projects that have been completed and a couple of ideas for future projects. These projects cover casualties from multiple states. Kathy Harmon, the PA State director, has taken on the role as SBTS Project Coordinator. In this role, she is gathering information on the projects. If you have any comments, updates or anything to add to the list below, please contact her at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org.
The main purpose of gathering this information is to be able to share the results at the end of each project with all state directors so they can update their state sheets. It is also so very interesting to see the diversity of projects started. Special thanks to all of you actively working on any of these projects!!
A final review is in process to verify all stories are completed for Arlington National Cemetery and to be sure that the SBTS partner has been added, gold stars are added and links to FindaGrave are added and working. We are about 35% thru the review process and have found 94 missing or incomplete stories. This is high priority to get things cleaned up so that Don can share the information with Arlington National Cemetery. If anyone is interested in helping with the review process and/or writing stories, please let us know.
3rd Marine Division – about 2,500 casualties, submitted by Gene Major. This unit was selected because Gene’s uncle was a veteran of this unit which mainly fought at Bougainville, Guam & Iwo Jima. No update available.
70th Infantry Division “Trailblazers” – 880 casualties from 48 states, 99 completed stories. Submitted by Betsy Brannon Mills. Looking for help to write stories.
UPDATE - 82nd Airborne, 507 PIR, 2nd Btn, Co F – 41 casualties from 23 state, 95% complete. Submitted by Eric Malinowski. This unit was selected for family connections.
NEW – 82nd Airborne, 505 PIR – 316 casualties, 29% complete. Submitted by Joanne King. This unit was selected for family connections.
103rd Infantry Division – 857 casualties, main focus is on Company B, 411th Infantry Regiment. Submitted by Terry Toohig. He has a spreadsheet showing various regiments in this division, as well as the 614th Tank Destroyers (an African-American unit). No update available.
398th Bomb Group, submitted by Eric Malinowski. This unit was selected for family connections. No update available.
442nd Infantry in which Japanese-American soldiers were enlisted – about 600 casualties, submitted by Dana Harrison. She is starting on those men from Washington state. No update available.
Air Force Squadron 96, focusing on 7/28/1943 only – about 60 casualties. Submitted by Steven Lake. His cousin was killed in this squad on this date, 6 planes lost, stories are completed for 4 of the planes. No update available.
Aircraft #42-94949, 741st Bomb Sqd, 455th Bomb Grp, 15 AF – about 7 casualties, submitted by Sally Drummond. This plane was accidentally bombed from a US bomber above, 3 men survived and were captured. No update available.
American Brewing Industry – about 75 casualties, 57 completed stories for members of this industry whose deaths were noted in the industry trade journals, submitted by Greg Casey. No update available.
UPDATE - Arisan Maru – about 1,600 casualties from 47 states, 20% complete. These were American POWs aboard this Japanese hell ship, sunk 10/24/1944. Looking for help to write stories, contact Rona Simmons at rona_simmons@bellsouth.net
UPDATE - Battle of Tarawa from 11/20 thru 11/23/1943 – 1,019 casualties, submitted by John Haskins. A google sheet was started in June. 76% complete. All names were assigned to state directors. Need help to identify if stories were completed and/or help to finish stories for the following states – AL, FL, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, OH, UT and VA. Contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org.
Douglas C-47 aircraft, 8/21/1944 – about 7 casualties, submitted by Donna Fluegel. This plane was lost in the Atlantic Ocean, non-battle, no bodies recovered. No update available.
Federal Cemetery, Louisville, KY – about 16 bodies returned from overseas in 1950, not sure if all KY men or from other states too. Submitted by Sally Drummond. No update available.
Jellico Troop Train Wreck, accident near Jellico, TN with enlistees coming from Ft Benjamin Harris, IN and headed for training in Camp Croft, SC – 33 casualties. Submitted by Linda Simpson. No update available.9% complete
Kassel Mission on 9/27/1944 – about 117 casualties, submitted by Katie Rasdorf. No update available.LST-422, Royal Navy Ship is US military onboard sunk 1/26/1944 – about 206 casualties, 28% complete. Submitted by John Avis. No update available.
LST-523, ship sunk by the enemy 6/19/1944 – 211 casualties, 80% complete. Submitted by Donna Fluegel. Donna’s uncle died on this ship. Spreadsheet kept by Janne Boone, FL state director. No update available.
MA Nautical School/MA Maritime Academy with focus on the casualties from these locations, submitted by Matthew Sargent. Number of casualties unknown. No update available.
Marietta National Cemetery, Georgia – 360 casualties from 21 states, 20 completed stories, submitted by Loren Pilsco. Betty Summerlin has offered to help, Becky Fox, GA state director, has been notified. No update available.
Marines lost in the sinking of the USS McKean – mostly Company I & M from the 21st/3rd Marines, 38 casualties, 11/17/1943. Submitted by Gene Major. No update available.
Merchant Marine Reserve Officers in the Navy that died either mobilized or while serving in the Merchant Marines, submitted by Matthew Sargent. Number of casualties unknown. No update available.
UPDATE - Merchant Marines, all mariners, 448 ships identified as lost – about 10,000, sheet is available, states are identified for 6,500, 349 stories completed (that we know of). Looking for help to write stories/and or help to sort out datasheet. Contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org.
UPDATE - National Cemeteries in Pennsylvania – 8 cemeteries backed by the VA, does not include Gettysburg National Cemetery. 394 casualties from 12 states, 93% complete, all have been all assigned. Submitted by Kathy Harmon
Okinawa Marines with the focus on Company C, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division – unknown quantity of casualties, 28 completed stories. Submitted by Cara Clark. Her grandfather fought in this unit. No update available.
NEW – P-47 Thunderbolts, focus on pilots killed or missing, 1,325 casualties, 49% complete. Submitted by John & Keene Melde. These 2 brothers are writing these stories in honor of a family cousin.
UPDATE - Taffy 3 – during the Battle off Samar, 13 US ships were involved. Of those, 5 were sunk and 4 had damages with casualties. 1,161 total losses. Submitted by Jeff Vessenmeyer. Jeff is working on Wisconsin names. Scott Cole has taken the lead on this. A sheet has been started, identifying losses and home states.
US Submarine Crews – 52 subs lost, 48 with casualties. Total 3,617 casualties and stories completed for 23 subs, list of the subs that are completed is available. Submitted by Loren Plisco and Susan Gould. No update available.
UPDATE - USAT Dorchester sunk on 2/3/1943, well known for the loss of 4 chaplains. Total 551 casualties, 90% complete. Looking for help to complete a few NY, OH, VA, and 5 unknown home locations. Contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org.
UPDATE - USS Hull (DD-350), 12/18/1944 – 221 casualties from 43 states, 8% complete. Submitted by Wilma Dempsey. Donna Fluegel has taken leadership of this project. Help is wanted to help write stories. Contact Donna at donnabf@aol.com.
USS Reuben James – was the 1st ship sunk on 10/31/1941 before the US entered into the war, 99 losses from 27 states. Submitted by Bob Fuerst. A google sheet is available. No update available.
USS Savannah CL-42, ship was attacked 9/11/1943 that caused damage – 198 casualties from 36 states, 23 completed. A sheet has been created & verified using the Report of Changes for this ship on 9/30/1943 that lists each person that was missing and/or died. Is anyone is interested in leading this project? Contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org. No update available.
UPDATE - Women casualties to include all women lost in the wartime – 566 casualties, 53% complete. Submitted by Lea Schneider. Lea has a spreadsheet and is looking for help in writing stories and/or helping to update the datasheet.
Completed Projects
Arlington National Cemetery – 8,700 American WWII casualties buried here, all states
B-17 Bombers – 12 bombers arrived during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 15 casualties
D-Day – landing in Normandy, 2,052 American casualties, multiple states
Gettysburg National Cemetery– 497 WWII Fallen from 14 states buried here, men from all branches except Coast Guard or Merchant Mariners
HMT Rohna – ship attacked 11/26/1943, 1,015 casualties, multiple states
Pearl Harbor – 2,341 casualties during the attack on 12/7/1941, multiple states
SS Leopoldville – ship torpedoed 12/24/1944, 763 American casualties, multiple states
St Valerey-en-caux Train Wreck 2980 in France on 1/17/1945 – 68 casualties
Tokyo Prison Fire – POW camp fire 5/26/1945, 64 casualties, 30 different states
100th Bomb Group – 789 casualties. Completed list sent to all state directors.
Via Reggio, Italy – mine explosion on 7/18/1945, killed 24 men. Submitted by Anita Ashworth.
B-24, #41-29252 – 10 crew members lost when shot down. Submitted by Sally Drummond.
USS Tang – ship sunk 10/25/1944 from own torpedo, 78 casualties. Submitted by Sheree Dowdle.
Ideas for Future Projects
USS Juneau – torpedoed by enemy 11/13/1942, 687 casualties, including the 5 Sullivan brothers. Is anyone working on this?
USS Indianapolis – torpedoed by enemy 7/30/1945, 1,195 crewman aboard, 316 survived. Is anyone working on this?
We started collecting project information near the beginning of August. A lot of the information provided here is from that first round of collecting. If you have submitted a project, please keep sending updates to Kathy Harmon to include any numbers you may now have as far as number of casualties, number of stories completed, etc. Also, if you are working on a project that is not listed, please let Kathy know that too so it can be added to the list.
Just a reminder, we are gathering information on projects that involve multiple states.
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