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Pacific Campaign Individuals Roll of Honor

T/SGT. Albert James Roberts. 1918 to 1996(photo)

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio.

5Th USAAF, 69th Srvc Sqdn, 1942-1945. New Guinea: Port Moresby, Hollandia, Biak, Trobriand Islands, Saidor. Sydney & Mackay, Australia.

See 'ALs page' for service info.

Major Raymond H. Wilkins. 19-- to 1943(photo)

Hometown: West Winfield, New York.

5Th USAAF, 3rd Attack Grp. 1942-1943. Doba Dura, New Guinea.

Major Wilkins was killed leading an attack by 13th & 90th Squadrons on the Japanese base at Rabaul. His aircraft deliberately drew fire from 2 Jap cruisers to enable his comrades to attack at less risk to themselves. Major Wilkins was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery.

S/SGT. Jack Heyn(photo)

Hometown: Watertown, S. Dakota.

5Th USAAF, 3rd Bomb Grp. (L). 1941-1945. Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia / Port Moresby, Doba Dura, New Guinea / Nadzab / Hollandia / Philippines.

Jack Heyn was a Photo Lab Tech with 3rd Bomb group all the way from 1941 to 1945. Jack has contributed greatly to this site with information and photos.

Col. Paul I. 'Pappy' Gunn. 1900 to 1957

Hometown: Quitman, Arkansas.

5Th USAAF, 3rd Bomb Grp. 1941-1945. Philippines / Java / Mindanao / Australia /New Guinea / Leyte.

'Pappy' was instrumental in changing US tactics for attacking Japanese shipping. His adding of 75mm cannon & more .50 caliber machine guns to the nose of B25s was to prove a winning strategy, allowing the bombers to deliver knockout blows in the form of 'skip' bombs & concentrated heavy guns to Japanese shipping. 'Pappy' survived the war but was killed in an aircrash on October 11, 1957.

E.R.A. 4th Class, John D. Cox. 19-- to 1945(photo)

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario.

Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMCS Guysborough, 1942-1945. Pacific, Atlantic.

John Cox enlisted in in May, 1942. He served on several ships in the Pacific before being posted to the minesweeper, HMCS Guysborough. The Guysborough was the last Canadian ship to be sunk overseas in WWII. She was torpedoed by the U878 off Ushant, France on March 17, 1945, Sadly, John was killed at his post. His body was later recovered and buried at sea. John's name is also in the Books of Remembrance (pg #506) on display in Ottawa.

GM2 Joseph V. DiFiore(photo)

Hometown: Wickliffe, Ohio.

US Naval Reserve, USS LST-452. 1943-1945. New Guinea, Philippines.

Joe DiFiore's LST took part in various invasions and his awards include the 'Navy Unit Commendation', the 'Philippine Liberation Ribbon' and the 'Philippine Presidential Unit Citation'.

Lt. Cmdr William J. Kramer(photo)

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio.

USNR, USS Breton, CVE-23. 1942-1945. Various Pacific locations including Midway, Saipan, Kwajalian, Battle of the Philippine Sea, the 2nd Bonins raid, Okinawa, Japan.

'Bill' Kramer served on the Breton throughout the Pacific war & finished his Pacific duty with the occupation of Japan. Some of 'Bola Bill's' amusing stories of life aboard the Breton can be read in 'other vets stories'.

Capt. Andrew A. Haldane. 1917 to 1944.(photo)

Hometown: Lawrence, Massachusetts.

5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1941-1944. Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu.

Captain Andrew Haldane commanded 'K' company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, during the Pacific Campaign. He took part in numerous landings and won the Silver Star for gallantry during the fighting at Cape Gloucester. Captain Haldane was killed on Peleliu, three days before his unit was due to be pulled off line.

PFC. John Riley Brown. 1919 to 1945(photo)

Hometown: Stevensville, Montana.

12th Cavalry, U.S. Army, 1941-1945. Pacific, Philippines.

John Riley Brown was born August 24th, 1919, in Stevensville Montana. Tragically, John was killed on March 9th, 1945, in the mountains of Luzon, Philippines during a Jap counterattack. He was buried with full military honors on Luzon, Manila, and was brought back to the U.S.A. to be buried at Fort Snelling cemetary, Minneapolis, in 1949.

PVT Harry Hall Saunders. 1917 - 1975.

Hometown - ?

35th Medical Battalion, U.S. Army. New Zealand, Philippines.

Harry joined the army in December 4,1939 and served with the medical detatchment of the 37th Engineer Regiment until December 4, 1941. From December 4, 1941 until September 12th, 1944, Harry served with the medical detatchment of the 167th Field Artillery Battalion. Harry was captured by the Japanese in 1944. He and other POW's were left for dead when the Japanese Army retreated from the island that the POW camp was on. After the war, Harry returned to the United States and was discharged. Harry spent two years in a VA hospital recovering from the deprivations suffered in the Jap prison camp.

1st Lt. Harold R. (Bob) Prince. 1921-1944

Hometown: Rochester, NY.

5th U.S.A.A.F. 90th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group. 1942-1944. New Guinea.

'Bob' grew up in Rochester,NY with a fascination for planes and flying. He joined the war effort in early 1942 and was trained as a pilot. He had a distinguished record, flying B-25 and A-20 bombers. After 75 successful missions, Lt. Prince and his crew were lost when their A-20 failed to return from an administrative courier flight on May 14, 1944.

General Richard C. Ellis. (photo)

Hometown: ?

Commander, 3rd Bomb Group, 5th U.S.A.A.F, June 1944- October 1944, December 1944-May 1945. New Guinea, Nadzab, Hollandia, Philippines.

As a Colonel, Richard Ellis had two stints as 3rd Bomb Group commander. He was a full Colonel at twenty five years of age and flew over 200 combat missions. Colonel Ellis stayed on in the Air Force at the end of WWII. He became a Four Star General and served as Commander of Offut Air Base, Nebraska, Strategic Air Command, from August 1977 to July 1981.

Lt. Col. T. C. Castle. 1906 to 1979.(photo)

Hometown: Houston, Texas.

Commander, 38th Bomb Group, 1941-1942. Australia, New Guinea.

Lt. Col. Castle commanded the 38th Bomb Group until he was hospitalised in late 1942. He was then assigned as training officer at Santa Maria Airbase untill the end of the war. After the war he remained in the reserves, being promoted to full Colonel on Feb 15th, 1946. He worked for Boeing on the Apollo space missions and died in 1979.

1st Lt. Abraham Soffer. 1918 - 1943. (Photo)

Hometown - Branford, Connecticut.

5th U.S.A.A.F, 90th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group. Australia, New Guinea.

'Abe' joined the Air Force in December, 1941. He quickly earned his commissions from Second to First Lieutenant. He took his place as chief navigator for the group aboard B25 'Notre Dame De Victore' piloted by Major Henebry.While on a mission over Madang, New Guinea, on May 8th, 1943, his B25 and others were involved in pressing home low level attacks on a Japanese ship while under heavy fire and being jumped by ten Japanese fighters. 'Abe' was awarded the Air Medal for 'meritous action while under heavy fire'. Sadly, 'Abe' was killed when his B25 crashed on take off on October 29th, 1943.

The music on this page is the Welsh hymn, 'Nearer thy God to thee'

T/SGT. Albert James Roberts. 1918 to 1996(photo) Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio. 5Th USAAF, 69th Srvc Sqdn, 1942-1945. New Guinea: Port Moresby, Hollandia, Biak, Trobriand Islands, Saidor. *Sydney & Mackay, Australia.* See 'ALs page' for service info.		Major Raymond H. Wilkins. 19-- to 1943(photo) Hometown: West Winfield, New York. 5Th USAAF, 3rd Attack Grp. 1942-1943. *Doba Dura, New Guinea.* Major Wilkins was killed leading an attack by 13th & 90th Squadrons on the Japanese base at Rabaul. His aircraft deliberately drew fire from 2 Jap cruisers to enable his comrades to attack at less risk to themselves. Major Wilkins was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery.
S/SGT. Jack Heyn(photo) Hometown: Watertown, S. Dakota. 5Th USAAF, 3rd Bomb Grp. (L). 1941-1945. Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia / Port Moresby, Doba Dura, New Guinea / Nadzab / Hollandia / Philippines. Jack Heyn was a Photo Lab Tech with 3rd Bomb group all the way from 1941 to 1945. Jack has contributed greatly to this site with information and photos.		Col. Paul I. 'Pappy' Gunn. 1900 to 1957 Hometown: Quitman, Arkansas. 5Th USAAF, 3rd Bomb Grp. 1941-1945. Philippines / Java / Mindanao / Australia /New Guinea / Leyte. 'Pappy' was instrumental in changing US tactics for attacking Japanese shipping. His adding of 75mm cannon & more .50 caliber machine guns to the nose of B25s was to prove a winning strategy, allowing the bombers to deliver knockout blows in the form of 'skip' bombs & concentrated heavy guns to Japanese shipping. 'Pappy' survived the war but was killed in an aircrash on October 11, 1957.
E.R.A. 4th Class, John D. Cox. 19-- to 1945(photo) Hometown: Toronto, Ontario. Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMCS Guysborough, 1942-1945. Pacific, Atlantic. John Cox enlisted in in May, 1942. He served on several ships in the Pacific before being posted to the minesweeper, HMCS Guysborough. The Guysborough was the last Canadian ship to be sunk overseas in WWII. She was torpedoed by the U878 off Ushant, France on March 17, 1945, Sadly, John was killed at his post. His body was later recovered and buried at sea. John's name is also in the Books of Remembrance (pg #506) on display in Ottawa.		GM2 Joseph V. DiFiore(photo) Hometown: Wickliffe, Ohio. US Naval Reserve, USS LST-452. 1943-1945. New Guinea, Philippines. Joe DiFiore's LST took part in various invasions and his awards include the 'Navy Unit Commendation', the 'Philippine Liberation Ribbon' and the 'Philippine Presidential Unit Citation'.
Lt. Cmdr William J. Kramer(photo) Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio. USNR, USS Breton, CVE-23. 1942-1945. Various Pacific locations including Midway, Saipan, Kwajalian, Battle of the Philippine Sea, the 2nd Bonins raid, Okinawa, Japan. 'Bill' Kramer served on the Breton throughout the Pacific war & finished his Pacific duty with the occupation of Japan. Some of 'Bola Bill's' amusing stories of life aboard the Breton can be read in 'other vets stories'.		Capt. Andrew A. Haldane. 1917 to 1944.(photo) Hometown: Lawrence, Massachusetts. 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1941-1944. Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu. Captain Andrew Haldane commanded 'K' company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, during the Pacific Campaign. He took part in numerous landings and won the Silver Star for gallantry during the fighting at Cape Gloucester. Captain Haldane was killed on Peleliu, three days before his unit was due to be pulled off line.
PFC. John Riley Brown. 1919 to 1945(photo) Hometown: Stevensville, Montana. 12th Cavalry, U.S. Army, 1941-1945. Pacific, Philippines. John Riley Brown was born August 24th, 1919, in Stevensville Montana. Tragically, John was killed on March 9th, 1945, in the mountains of Luzon, Philippines during a Jap counterattack. He was buried with full military honors on Luzon, Manila, and was brought back to the U.S.A. to be buried at Fort Snelling cemetary, Minneapolis, in 1949.		PVT Harry Hall Saunders. 1917 - 1975. Hometown - ? 35th Medical Battalion, U.S. Army. New Zealand, Philippines. Harry joined the army in December 4,1939 and served with the medical detatchment of the 37th Engineer Regiment until December 4, 1941. From December 4, 1941 until September 12th, 1944, Harry served with the medical detatchment of the 167th Field Artillery Battalion. Harry was captured by the Japanese in 1944. He and other POW's were left for dead when the Japanese Army retreated from the island that the POW camp was on. After the war, Harry returned to the United States and was discharged. Harry spent two years in a VA hospital recovering from the deprivations suffered in the Jap prison camp.
1st Lt. Harold R. (Bob) Prince. 1921-1944 Hometown: Rochester, NY. 5th U.S.A.A.F. 90th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group. 1942-1944. New Guinea. 'Bob' grew up in Rochester,NY with a fascination for planes and flying. He joined the war effort in early 1942 and was trained as a pilot. He had a distinguished record, flying B-25 and A-20 bombers. After 75 successful missions, Lt. Prince and his crew were lost when their A-20 failed to return from an administrative courier flight on May 14, 1944.		General Richard C. Ellis. (photo) Hometown: ? Commander, 3rd Bomb Group, 5th U.S.A.A.F, June 1944- October 1944, December 1944-May 1945. New Guinea, Nadzab, Hollandia, Philippines. As a Colonel, Richard Ellis had two stints as 3rd Bomb Group commander. He was a full Colonel at twenty five years of age and flew over 200 combat missions. Colonel Ellis stayed on in the Air Force at the end of WWII. He became a Four Star General and served as Commander of Offut Air Base, Nebraska, Strategic Air Command, from August 1977 to July 1981.
Lt. Col. T. C. Castle. 1906 to 1979.(photo) Hometown: Houston, Texas. Commander, 38th Bomb Group, 1941-1942. Australia, New Guinea. Lt. Col. Castle commanded the 38th Bomb Group until he was hospitalised in late 1942. He was then assigned as training officer at Santa Maria Airbase untill the end of the war. After the war he remained in the reserves, being promoted to full Colonel on Feb 15th, 1946. He worked for Boeing on the Apollo space missions and died in 1979.		1st Lt. Abraham Soffer. 1918 - 1943. (Photo) Hometown - Branford, Connecticut. 5th U.S.A.A.F, 90th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group. Australia, New Guinea. 'Abe' joined the Air Force in December, 1941. He quickly earned his commissions from Second to First Lieutenant. He took his place as chief navigator for the group aboard B25 'Notre Dame De Victore' piloted by Major Henebry.While on a mission over Madang, New Guinea, on May 8th, 1943, his B25 and others were involved in pressing home low level attacks on a Japanese ship while under heavy fire and being jumped by ten Japanese fighters. 'Abe' was awarded the Air Medal for 'meritous action while under heavy fire'. Sadly, 'Abe' was killed when his B25 crashed on take off on October 29th, 1943.