NORMAND WILLIAM DIETRICH was born on 30 July 1919 in St Louis City, MO. He was the son of Joseph Phil Adolph Dietrich Jr and Elizabeth Bozdech who married about 1914. His siblings were Earl William and Doris Agnes Dietrich Blankmann. Normand’s mother died unexpectedly in Nov 1929 after a two and one-half year residence in R. Koch hospital in Carondelet, MO. She died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. For a period during the 1930s Normand and his siblings lived with his father’s sister, Bertha Dietrich Schmutz and her husband Otto. Normand was a graduate of Hadley Technical High school.

With his father's permission, Normand enlisted in the US Navy (NSN:337-17-24) in St. Louis, MO on 14 Aug 1939 as an Apprentice Seaman (AS) for a term of 4 years. His monthly pay was $21.00. He was sent to the US Naval Training Station (NTS), San Diego, CA for recruit training. He completed that training in Oct 1939 and after several weeks of leave he was transferred from NTS San Diego to the aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown (CV-5), on 29 Oct 1939. On 16 Dec 1939, AS Dietrich changed his rate to Fireman Third Class (F3c). F3c Dietrich received orders in early March 1940 to transfer to the Asiatic Station for duty. On 08 Mar 1940, Dietrich detached from the Yorktown and reported on 10 Mar to his first ride on his journey across the Pacific; the transport ship USS Henderson (AP-1) in San Francisco, CA. She was bound for Honolulu, HI then on to Wake Island, Guam and then to Shanghai, China.

On 2 May 1940, Dietrich disembarked from the Henderson and reported on board the fleet oiler, USS Pecos (AO-6) in Shanghai to continue his trip. On 16 Aug 1940, Dietrich advanced in rate to Fireman Second Class (F2c). F2c Dietrich finally reached his destination when he disembarked from the Pecos and reported for duty on board the Mine Sweeper, USS Bittern (AM-36) on 23 Nov 1940. It took him seven months of travel to reach his final duty station. In early 1941, Dietrich was advanced in rate to Fireman First Class (F1c). On 01 Oct 1941, F1c Dietrich was advanced two rates to Machinist's Mate Second Class (MM2). Three weeks later, MM2 Dietrich detached from Bittern and reported on board the heavy cruiser and flagship of the Asiatic Fleet, USS Houston (CA-30), for duty on 25 Oct 1941.

The Houston arrived in the Philippines at Manila on 19 November 1940 where she became part of the Asiatic Fleet. The same day, Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Commander Asiatic Fleet, broke his flag on board Houston. During 1941 as the prospects of hostilities with Japan increased, so did the operational tempo of Houston. In late Nov 1941, Admiral Hart took the warnings of impending hostilities seriously and began to disperse the forces under his command never keeping them in port for too long. In late Nov 1941, he began moving many units of his force further south away from the Philippines.

In the predawn hours of 8 Dec 1941 (7 Dec east of the International Date Line), Houston received a message indicating that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor and hostilities with Japan had commenced. Later that day, Japanese attack aircraft struck the Philippines. However, many of Admiral Hart's naval forces were dispersed at sea or enroute to Surabaya, Java thereby minimizing losses to his fleet. US Army Air Forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur were the only US forces caught completely by surprise and were destroyed on the ground.

Houston arrived at Surabaya on 17 Dec. After several days inport Surabaya she joined the American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) naval force. Houston departed for Darwin, Australia on 20 Dec. She arrived there on 28 Dec 1941. Houston was underway again providing escort services on 12 Jan 1942. Houston did not see combat action until 4 Feb in the Battle of Makassar Strait when Japanese land based attack aircraft began bombing the ABDA force. For the next several weeks, Houston was engaged in frequent combat.

The Houston left Batavia, Java, in company with the light cruiser H.M.A.S Perth, in the evening of 28 Feb 1942, enroute to the southern coastal town of Tjilatjap, Java via the Sunda Strait. At about 11:15 pm, when within about five miles of St. Nicholas Point, Java, Japanese ships were sighted and immediately engaged by Houston and Perth. It soon was apparent that they had encountered a large Japanese force, which was preparing to land on the coast of Java. This force was comprised of Japanese cruisers, destroyers, seaplane tenders, transports, and possibly submarines. About 20 minutes after the start of the engagement, the Perth, struck by torpedoes, left formation and sank shortly after. From then on and for a period of about an hour the Houston singly engaged the entire Japanese force in a fierce battle. The range of the enemy was at times less than one mile. Houston was hit many times by both torpedoes and shellfire. Early in the morning of 01 Mar 1942, Houston, with her United States colors still flying rolled over to starboard and sank. Houston lost almost 700 crewmen. Most of the 368 Navy and Marine Corps survivors were captured by the Japanese (this was not known for over two years) and sent to internment or work camps where 79 died in captivity.

According to the 01 Mar 1942 USS Houston muster report, Petty Officer Dietrich was reported missing on 01 Mar 1942. He was presumed dead on 15 Dec 1945. He was awarded (Posthumously) the Purple Heart, US Navy Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Fleet Clasp and two bronze battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, US Army Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, and Philippine Defense Medal.

More than 3 years later Mr Joseph Dietrich, Normand's father, received a letter from Capt. A.L. Maher, USN, senior surviving officer of Houston dated 14 Nov 1945. Capt. Maher said that because of a very careful review of all available information obtained from interrogating many Houston survivors, and due to the great lapse of time since the sinking of the ship, he was personally of the belief that there was no hope for Normand's survival. In early Jan 1946, Mr. Dietrich received a personal letter from Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, confirming the fact of the death of his son and establishing the date of his death for official purposes as 15 Dec 1945.

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USS Houston (CA-30) Presidential Unit Citation (WWII)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in awarding the Presidential Unit Citation to the UNITED STATES SHIP HOUSTON for services as set forth in the following citation:

For outstanding performance against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific from December 7, 1941, to February 28, 1942. At sea almost constantly, often damaged but self-maintaining, the HOUSTON kept the sea. She maneuvered superbly and with deadly antiaircraft fire repulsed the nine-plane Japanese bombing squadrons attacking a troop convoy under her care. Later, in company with other Allied ships, she engaged a powerful enemy force, carried the brunt of the action with her two remaining 8 inch turrets and aided in damaging and routing two enemy heavy cruisers from the line of battle. On February 28, the HOUSTON went down, gallantly fighting to the last against overwhelming odds. She leaves behind her an inspiring record of valiant and distinguished service.

For the President

Frank Knox

Secretary of the Navy

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A commemoration from President Harry S. Truman in honor of MM2 Dietrich’s service reads:

In Grateful Memory of Normand William Dietrich, Who Died In The Service Of His Country At Sea, Asiatic Area, attached U.S.S. Houston, 15 December 1945 (presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives – in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

Signed,

Harry Truman

President of the United States of America

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Find A Grave Memorial ID#56778923