Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Wilson Couch Koehler, age 21, from Sacramento, California, Sacramento county.
Parents: Lawrence Koehler
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: El Camino High graduate, Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts
Military history: Green Beret
Date of death: Sunday, February 8, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile death in Vietnam
Cemetery: Golden Gate National
Source: National Archives, Sacramento Bee (1970)
Jerry Kenneth Davidson, age 28, from Sacramento County Sacramento, California .
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Monday, August 6, 1945
Death details: Killed aboard USS Bullhead SS-332 when it was sunk by air attack near the Lombok Strait.
Source: On Eternal Patrol
Jack Keith Runyan from Sacramento., California, Sacramento. county.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Sirenious Runyan
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Monday, December 18, 1944
Death details: He was aboard the destroyer USS Hull as it operated as part of the Fast Carrier Strike Force in the Philippine Sea. On December 17, 1944, the Hull was participating in refueling operations when the ships of its fueling group were engulfed by Typhoon Cobra. The Hull lost its ability to steer amid the enormous waves and began taking on water. The Hull eventually took on too much water to stay afloat and rolled and sank shortly before noon, on December 18. Sixty-two crew members were rescued, but a little more than two-hundred crew members were lost in the sinking.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Robert Henry Ellis from Sacramento, California, Sacramento county.
Spouse: Mrs. Doyce Darlene Ellis
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Monday, December 18, 1944
Death details: He was aboard the destroyer USS Hull as it operated as part of the Fast Carrier Strike Force in the Philippine Sea. On December 17, 1944, the Hull was participating in refueling operations when the ships of its fueling group were engulfed by Typhoon Cobra. The Hull lost its ability to steer amid the enormous waves and began taking on water. The Hull eventually took on too much water to stay afloat and rolled and sank shortly before noon, on December 18. Sixty-two crew members were rescued, but a little more than two-hundred crew members were lost in the sinking.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Robert G. Chute, age 23, from Sacramento County Sacramento, California .
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Friday, June 16, 1944
Death details: Killed in a plane crash while on a training flight out of Mather Field, Sacramento to Bakersfield, California.
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1944), Alameda Times Star (1944)
Edward C. Hennessey, age 38, from Sacramento, California, Sacramento county.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Saturday, November 20, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. First Lieutenant Edward C. Hennessey joined the U.S. Marine Corps from California and was a member of Headquarters Service Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, which took part in the Battle of Tarawa. On November 20, 1943, 1stLt Hennessey was killed in action on Tarawa and was buried in Cemetery #33, Main Marine Cemetery. Post-war searches of burial sites on Tarawa failed to locate his remains. Today, First Lieutenant Hennessey is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Louis Faria, age 21, from Sacramento, California, Sacramento county.
Parents: Maria C. Faria
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Saturday, November 20, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Private First Class Louis Faria entered the U.S. Marine Corps from California and served with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He was killed in action on 20 November 1943, during the Battle of Tarawa. Private First Class Faria was buried on Betio, but his remains could not be identified among those disinterred from the island following the war. Today, Private First Class Faria is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Richard J. Jr. Minear, age 20, from Sacramento, California, Sacramento county.
Parents: Richard J. Minear Sr.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Sacramento Bee (1941)
Clyde Harold Mastel, age 18, from Sacramento, California, Sacramento county.
Parents: Peter Junior Mastel
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Forrest Jesse Estes, age 23, from Sacramento, California, Sacramento county.
Parents: Elizabeth Dailey
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona
Source: National Archives, Sacramento Bee (1964)