Webb, Francis E.
Army Private

Francis E. Webb, age 27, from Clinton County Clinton, Iowa .

Parents: Clinton Webb

Service era: World War II
Military history: 126 Infantry 32 Division

Date of death: Wednesday, December 2, 1942
Death details: In early 1942, the Japanese High Command began a campaign to take control of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in an effort to cut off American and Australian naval routes and supply lines. From July through November, Allied forces solidified defenses to stop the Japanese advance, and from November 1942 to January 1943, attempted to capture the Solomon Islands. The Japanese had set up significant, almost impenetrable, defenses on the islands, concealed in areas of dense jungle, forcing Allied forces into separated and restricted columns of attack. As they approached Buna, the American and Australian troops faced a network of highly organized, mutually supporting bunkers fitted with reinforced walls, natural camouflage, and supplies. As a result of these difficulties, the first series of Allied attacks were defeated, demoralizing the troops and depleting their resources. It was not until December 2 that the Allies had any significant victories, and fighting in the area would continue until January 22, 1943. Fighting continued on the north coast of New Guinea into 1944, as Allied forces pushed the Japanese farther to the north and west. This campaign included retaking Japanese strongholds at Lae, Finschhafen, and Saidor. Private Francis E. Webb entered the U.S. Army from Iowa and served in Company L, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On December 2, 1942, Private Webb was killed in action during fighting on the Soputa-Sanananda Track, near Buna, New Guinea, but the exact circumstances of his loss are unknown. He has not been associated with any remains recovered from the area after the war and is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private Webb is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Quad City Times (1943)