Eugene Richard Poland was born on 04 Jun 1920 in Covington, Allegheny, VA (later Covington became an independent city) to Bernard Daniel and Pearl Victoria (George) Poland. Pearl was one of five children born to Richard E C George and Minnie Susan Pierce who married on 17 July 1895 in Mountain Grove, Bath, VA. Pearl’s siblings were Bessie Clara, Clyde Hugh, Marion O’Neil and Minnie Glenn Scott George.

Bernard Daniel Poland was born in Vera, Fayette, IL., on 19 Aug 1880. He was the eldest of six children born to Samuel James and Catherine M (Steinberg) Poland. Bernard enlisted in the US Army 08 Jun 1918 and was discharged on 01 Apr 1919. He reenlisted on 03 Apr 1919 and was discharged on 18 May 1920. Pearl and Bernard were enumerated on the 01 Jan 1920 Camp Eustis, Warwick, VA US Census. He was listed as a soldier. After his discharge on 18 May, the couple moved to Alleghany County, Virginia where Eugene was born on 4 Jun 1920.

Bernard and Pearl’s marriage was very short lived. He played no role in his son’s life. According to the Akron Beacon Journal (Beacon) newspaper, Bernard served 13 years in the Army and died by 1946 (incorrect. Only served two years and he died in 1950). The Beacon reported on 09 Oct 1922 that Pearl Poland filed for a divorce from Bernard Poland charging gross neglect. The couple married in 1919 and had one child according to the article. A divorce decree was granted to Pearl the following year on 13 Mar 1923 by the Summit County, OH court. After her divorce, Pearl worked at Goodrich Tire & Rubber for a short time to support herself and Eugene. Pearl’s parents, who also lived in Akron, OH, provided monetary and baby sitting support.

On 28 Nov 1928, Pearl married US Army veteran, Elmer Fahlgren, in Akron, OH. It isn’t known where he and Pearl met, but their marriage didn’t last very long either. Elmer served in the US Army as a Sergeant, A company, Hdqrs Co., 17th Infantry from 1914 until 4 Jun 1920 when he was discharged in Chicago, IL. He did not serve overseas during WWI. On 10 Feb 1928, Elmer was admitted with multiple illnesses to the Dayton (Ohio) National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Jefferson Twp, Dayton, Montgomery, OH.

Elmer was discharged from the Home on 09 Feb 1929. On 25 Oct 1929, he was readmitted to the Soldier's Home where he was enumerated on the 01 Apr 1930 US census report. According to that census, Pearl and Elmer reported they were divorced although Pearl filed for divorce at the Summit County court house in May 1930 citing neglect. They were officially divorced later that year. Elmer remained in the Home until he was discharged on 01 Apr 1933. He was readmitted again a short time later. He was still at the Military Home in Dayton, OH when he registered for the WWII draft in 1942.

Pearl and Eugene had moved into the same building in which her parents also lived by 01 Apr 1930 US Census report. As the Great Depression worsened, Pearl and her son moved in with her parents before 1935. She would live with them until at least 1950. In the late 1930s Pearl was rehired at the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. for whom she worked thereafter for many years.

Eugene attended South High School where he was a student until about 1936 when he finished the 10th grade. The Beacon said Eugene was a graduate of South H.S., in a number of articles. He did not graduate. According to the 1940 US Census, Eugene finished the 10th grade and was not in school.

Like so many youth of that era, Eugene felt duty-bound to help his family with finances during the economic hard times. After he left high school, he enrolled with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to help supplement the family’s meager earnings (1940 US Census). He was also keen to learn a trade and find adventure. And, like many of his contemporaries, Eugene was lured to the opportunities of the US military services. At the local navy recruiting station (NRS) in Akron, Eugene secured an enlistment application in the early summer of 1940. He completed the preliminary entrance examinations; submitted personal references; completed administrative paperwork and passed background checks. He also secured his mother's permission to enlist because he was not yet 21 years of age. After he was accepted for enlistment, Eugene received a discharge from the CCC.

His final requirement before enlistment was to pass physical and dental examinations that were administered at the regional NRS in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, OH. Eugene was to report to NRS Cleveland on 04 Sep 1940 to be enlisted. He traveled the 40 miles or so to Cleveland on 04 Sep where he passed his physical and dental examinations. Later that day, he was one of ten recruits who were sworn into the US Navy (NSN: 283-38-63) for a period of six years with the beginning rate of Apprentice Seaman (AS). The ten recruits were T.R. Buonfigli, W.F. Kubinec, J. Schmidt, R.P. Steverman, O. Spicer, J.W. Edwards, Jr., M.L. Miller, E.R. Poland, G. Beban, and L.C. Ludwig. They boarded a train bound for the Naval Training Station (NTS) Great Lakes, IL for 6-8 weeks of recruit training. Poland was one of 52 navy recruits that filled the navy’s September quota for the Akron District; the largest in peace-time history according to the Beacon on 29 Sep 1940.

On 3 Oct 1940, the Beacon reported that AS Poland earned a marksmanship medal at NTS Great Lakes less than a month after he enlisted. It also noted that he would return home on recruit leave within 2 weeks. On 26 Oct, Poland and 8 other Akron area navy recruits arrived home on leave from NTS Great Lakes. At the expiration of his 10 days of leave, Poland returned to NTS Great Lakes where he would be assigned to either a navy service school or a ship in the US fleet. He received orders to report for duty to the heavy cruiser, USS Chicago (CA-29) via the battleship, USS Idaho (BB-42). On 10 Nov 1940, AS Poland reported on board Idaho as a passenger. Idaho transferred Poland to Chicago on 06 Dec 40 for duty. While on board Chicago, AS Poland advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c) in early January 1941.

As the relations between Japan and the United States continued to deteriorate in 1940, the US Navy Department began sending large numbers of sailors to the Asiatic fleet based in the Philippines to fill manning short-falls. AS Poland was one of those sailors. He received change of duty orders in late December 1940 to detach from Chicago and report for assignment to Asiatic Station. On 21 Jan 1941, Poland transferred from Chicago in Pearl Harbor and embarked on the transport ship, USS Chaumont (AP-5). She steamed out of Pearl Harbor on 23 Jan 1941 making stops at Wake Island (Jan 30 – Feb 5) then on to Guam (6 Feb – 10 Feb) and arriving in Manila on 10 Feb 1941. Upon arrival in Manila, Poland checked in with the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Nine (CDS-29) who assigned him to the destroyer, USS Peary (DD-226), for duty.

Prelude to War - 1940-1941.

As Japanese aggression continued to rise in East Asia in 1940, many foreign governments began withdrawing all of their ground based forces and the majority of the naval forces, as well as, evacuating military and civilian expatriates from China. On 28 Apr, USS Peary (DD-226) steamed out of Manila Bay bound for Hong Kong for some "showing the flag" as the Japanese were becoming ever increasingly bellicose. After visiting several ports along the China coast, Peary got underway from Tsingtao, China on 24 June 1940 steaming to Manila.

By autumn of 1940, the unstable international situation in the region and Japan's persistent aggression made the presence of the Asiatic Fleet ships untenable, so Adm. Thomas C. Hart, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet, ordered the withdrawal of all major Navy blue-water ships from China on 21 October 1940, leaving only the gunboats on the Yangtze. When Peary departed from Shanghai a short time later, it would mark the end of the US Navy's blue-water ships presence in Chinese ports. As the Asiatic Fleet reduced its presence in China, Peary's operations indefinitely shifted to the Philippine Archipelago. During 1941, the bulk of her activities included training and patrols around the Philippine Islands.

Admiral Hart had begun evacuating all of the families of his sailors home in late 1940. There was push-back from the resentful spouses who initially declined to leave their husbands. It was only a threat to indefinitely restrict their spouses to their ships without leave that finally convinced the families; it was time to comply with orders and return to the continental United States (CONUS). Many traveled home on the President's Steam Ship Line. Admiral Hart's directive probably saved many family members from internment by the Japanese or worse. For many of the married and unmarried sailors alike, it was the last time they would ever see their families.

The threat of hostilities between the United States and Japan grew closer to the boiling point as the year 1941 began. Then, in July 1941, as Japanese aggression intensified with their move south into lower Indo-China, Admiral Hart warned his officers that he had no doubt that war would come although he didn't know how or when it would start. Hart trained his destroyer crews hard keeping them on a war-footing for extended periods and away from Cavite naval base as much as possible exercising his "defensive deployment."

Ordered to comply with the Adm. Hart's "defensive deployment" well south of Manila, units of the Asiatic Fleet including destroyer tender USS Blackhawk (AD-9), and other ships of Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Nine (DesRon) 29, got underway on 25 Nov 1941, and arrived on the morning of 29 Nov 1941 in Balikpapan, a major oil port on the eastern coast of Borneo. Some ships remained for operational reasons.

Govern Yourself Accordingly!

On 7 December 1941 [8 December east of the International date Line], the Japanese onslaught began across a wide area, from the Far East to Pearl Harbor. When word was received that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. Adm Hart direct his forces to "Govern Yourself Accordingly." On 08 Dec 1941 in Akron, OH, the Beacon reported that Poland was one of 22 Akron area men stationed at Pearl Harbor (Apparently the paper hadn’t received word that Poland had transferred to the Philippines earlier that year.)

Several days later all hell broke loose at Manila Bay!

Despite his best efforts, Admiral Hart was still caught by surprise by the Japanese attacks on 10 Dec 1941. Four of the Destroyer Division Fifty Nine (DesDiv 59) ships remained in the Manila Bay area during the first week of December 1941 for overhaul and repairs (Peary and Pillsbury) and two others (Pope and Ford) to provide anti-submarine patrols and escort services for shipping. Pillsbury and Peary were in the navy yard at Cavite for repairs following a collision during night training exercises in late October. Peary was also there for a scheduled yard overhaul.

Peary was pier-side at Cavite's Central wharf on the morning of 10 Dec 1941 in a "cold iron" state. Her engines disassembled, bow open awaiting a patch, she was receiving "hotel" services (water, electricity and steam) from the pier (some reports indicate Peary was at the shipyard for routine maintenance). Many of her crew had moved ashore to continue repairs from base maintenance shops. She was non-operational. Suddenly, about 1300, two flights of more than 50 Japanese twin-engine, land-based, medium bombers appeared over the naval installations and commenced to obliterate everything in sight.

About 1350, Peary sustained a direct hit with an estimated 250 pound bomb which contained a combination of shrapnel and incendiary explosives. The bomb struck her mast spraying shrapnel in every direction killing or wounding almost everyone on the fire-control platform, bridge, and other areas and starting fires. Eight sailors were killed outright and five officers, including the Commanding Officer, Lcdr Keith, were wounded. The executive officer, Lt Albert Eugene Gates, Jr., was found unconscious on the bridge mortally wounded. They were evacuated to Sternberg hospital in Manila where Lt Gates probably died (exact location of death unknown but presumed at the hospital.). Per Peary's deck logs, S2c Poland was on board Peary during this attack. He was not wounded.

Unable to get underway and with little help on board or from ashore, Peary's fate seemed sealed. Suddenly, the small Asiatic Fleet minesweeper, USS Whippoorwill (AM-35), braved the flames, smoke and exploding warheads from a torpedo shop on the pier to render assistance (with help from Pillsbury) to the severely damaged Peary. After much effort, Whippoorwill was able to tow Peary to a buoy some distance away. She moored alongside Peary and within a brief period began sending over damage control parties, water and food to the beleaguered Peary (Whippoorwill's commanding officer received the Navy Cross for his actions that day.).

With the wounding of Peary's CO and death of her XO, the ship's temporary captaincy was assumed by Lt Martin M. Koivisto, who had sustained several shrapnel wounds himself during the attack. Lt John M. Bermingham, who had recently been the executive officer of the destroyer, USS Stewart (DD-224), was chosen for command of Peary based upon Lt Bermingham's chance encounter with the Asiatic Fleet's personnel commander on 10 Dec. In accordance with CINC, Asiatic Fleet orders dated 11 Dec 1941, Lt Bermingham assumed command of USS Peary as noted in her deck log entry of Thursday, 11 Dec 1941 and signed by M.M. Koivisto, LT, USN.

After the 10 Dec attack, the crew set to work making Peary ready for sea. It was a Herculean effort performed by the crew in conjunction with the facilities of Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company to effect the minimum repairs in order to make Peary sea-worthy. Also, a large number of Peary's crew were either killed, wounded or missing in action. A call for replacements was made by Peary's CO to COMAF and COM 16 ND. Many sailors from other commands were transferred to Peary to help fill her manning shortages.

On 23-24 Dec 1941, Peary got underway on her first war mission; an antisubmarine patrol assignment in the Verde Island Passage between Luzon and the Philippine island of Mindoro. The day after Christmas 1941, the CO's of USS Pillsbury and Peary were ashore at a conference with the Commandant, Sixteenth Naval District, Admiral Rockwell, to discuss releasing the ships to join other US forces in the Netherlands East Indies when enemy bombers suddenly appeared overhead. Peary was attacked by five flights of Japanese high level bombers. Each flight consisted of between 6 to 9 planes.

Lt Bermingham watched from shore as his new executive officer, Lt Martin M. Koivisto, deftly maneuvered Peary around Manila Bay dodging bomb after bomb for several hours. Though she suffered a few near misses, Peary emerged virtually unscathed. Later that evening, Peary and Pillsbury were ordered to put to sea and proceed south by the best route and join Task Force 5 at Soerabaja, Java. For safety, each ship was to proceed independently.

Peary's voyage south was eventful and dangerous as the Japanese held mastery of the air and sea. Intelligence information provided to Peary just after her departure from Manila indicated that Japanese warships probably lurked along his intended route to Surabaja. Lt Bermingham changed his track and destination to Darwin, Australia. Birmingham traveled only by night and during the day he brought his ship close to shore and tied up to trees and covered the ship with palm fronds and green paint in order to blend with the flora of the various islands. Several times, Japanese bombers flew overhead but did not detect the ship. At about 0800, 28 Dec, Peary sighted a large Japanese four-engine seaplane shadowing her. It was a Kawanishi HK6 "Mavis" flying boat. About 1400, three more Mavis' joined and the attacks began with each plane making two runs dropping a single bomb estimated at 500 pounds. During the attacks, gun crews kept up continuous fire at the enemy planes. Peary maneuvered successfully avoiding the bombs while her gun crews including threw up a curtain of anti-aircraft fire. Ironically, the Beacon reported on 28 Dec 1941 that Boatswain’s Mate Poland cabled from Manila in a message to his grandmother, Mrs. M.L. George and his mother, Mrs Pearl Poland, that he was “Safe and sound. Happy New Year.”

Finally, after the flying boats completed their attacks, two twin engine, single wing torpedo planes appeared and commenced an attack on Peary dropping two torpedoes off the port bow and two off the port quarter. Again, the skipper maneuvered the ship out of danger. However, after dropping their ordnance, the enemy torpedo planes fired several strafing bursts which struck the stacks. They were driven off by heavy shipboard machine gun fire.

About 1800, off Kema Island in the Bangka Strait, three Australian Lockheed Hudson patrol bombers were sighted approaching from astern. The aircraft challenged Peary via signal light and she responded. The pilot was seen to wave his arm. However, one of the planes assumed a glide bombing profile. Peary's anti-aircraft batteries opened fire and began maneuvering radically. One of Peary's crewman lost his balance and fell overboard (he was picked up by a fisherman, but was turned over to the Japanese. He worked in a mine in Japan and was repatriated at the end of the war.).

Each Hudson made two attacks dropping a single 250 pound shrapnel bomb. There were no direct hits but near misses caused extensive damage. Peary was hit in various places topside and in the engineering spaces. The shrapnel hit in the engineering spaces and knocked one of Peary's two main engines out of commission. One crewman was killed when he was struck by shrapnel (S1c Kenneth E. Quinaux, a machine gunner, was buried at sea during services at 2000 on 29 Dec 1941.). Prior to departing, each Hudson made a strafing run on the ship. It was learned later that the Australian aircraft had misidentified the US ships because of their resemblance to a class of Japanese warship.

Peary anchored at Port Darwin at 0840, 03 Jan 1942 after a 2100 mile plus transit from Manila, Philippines to Darwin, Australia. Within a week of arriving at Darwin, twenty-eight enlisted men and officers became ill with a virulent form of Malaria or Dengue Fever, contracted when the ship anchored off remote Maitara Island near Ternate in the Halmakeras. It was necessary to stop there to make repairs after being attacked by Australian aircraft. Eventually eight men would die from the diseases.

Peary received tender availability services from USS Black Hawk (AD-9) to affect temporary repairs and make Peary seaworthy. Those repairs were completed on 22 Jan 1942. Peary assumed submarine escort duties on numerous occasions. She was an anti-submarine escort for USS Langley (AV-3) from Darwin to Fremantle, Australia between 08-13 Feb 1942 and she steamed with USS Houston escorting a Darwin-Koepang convoy from 14 to 18 Feb 1942. She was also searching for a submarine contact which reduced her fuel supply such that she had to return to Port Darwin to refuel.

Peary returned to Port Darwin and anchored about 0100, 19 Feb 1942. About 1045, Port Darwin was attacked by a combined Japanese carrier and land base force of over 200 fighters and bombers. Peary, still at anchor, was hit by five bombs. The fifth bomb, an incendiary, exploded in the after engine room opening the ship to the sea. Peary sank, stern first with her anti-aircraft guns still firing until the last enemy plane left the area.

Eighty-eight officers and men including the commanding officer were killed in her sinking; 57 survived, 20 of whom were wounded. S2c Poland was believed to have gone down with his ship. He was listed as missing in action on 19 Feb 1942. On 10 April 1942, Mrs Poland received a telegram from the Navy Department. It read in part; "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son Eugene Richard Poland, Seaman Second Class, US Navy is missing following action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country."

Seaman Second Class Poland was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp (bronze star in lieu of clasp), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp and two bronze stars (one bronze star in lieu of clasp), Philippine Defense Medal with a bronze service star, and the WWII Victory Medal. He may be eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon (retroactively). He had previously earned the Marksmanship medal.

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S2c Poland’s family also received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:

In grateful memory of Eugene Richard POLAND, who died in the service of his country at Darwin, Australia, ATTACHED U.S.S. PEARY, 20 February 1943 (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.

//s// Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States of America

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On 03 Mar 1943, the Beacon reported that Mrs Poland and other mothers of missing in action military sons were receiving hoax calls saying their son was dead. Mrs Poland was a member of the Navy mother’s organization in Akron. The group notified the national navy mother’s organization who alerted the FBI who started an investigation.

Mrs Poland received a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, dated 17 March 1943. It read; "After a full review of all available information, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that your son, Eugene Richard POLAND, Seaman Second Class, U.S.N., is deceased, having been reported missing in action on the 19th day of February 1942, being a member of the crew and serving aboard the U.S.S. PEARY when that vessel was sunk in the port of Darwin, Australia. In accordance with Section 5 of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, as amended, your son's death is presumed to have occurred on the 20th of February 1943, which is the day following the day of expiration of an absence of twelve months. I extend to you my sincere sympathy in your great loss and hope you may find comfort in the knowledge that your son gave his life for his Country, upholding the highest traditions of the Navy. The Navy shares in your sense of bereavement and will feel the loss of his service."

On 19 Feb 1944, the Beacon reported that an Akron woman heard a Japanese radio broadcast that mentioned Poland was a POW. Mrs Pearl Poland, a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., worker was notified. She attempting to trace the source of the broadcast. On 21 Feb 1944, Beacon published an article that Mrs Poland confirms that claims her son was a Jap prisoner were not true.

On 14 Aug 1946, The Beacon published a story with the headline: “S2c Poland declared dead.” A memorial service was to be held. Interesting because Poland had been officially presumed dead in 1943. The paper also said that the sinking of Perry (sic) occurred during the fighting for Bataan Peninsula (not true). It said for two years after he was reported missing, his mother had no word of her only son (Not true). The navy sent her a detailed letter (part of which is noted below) in 1943 outlining the events surrounding the sinking of USS Peary when he was declared presumed dead.

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07 Mar 51 – Norman Paul Wright and Pearl Victoria Poland received a marriage license from Summit County, OH. Marriage certificate information regarding date and place of marriage not recorded. License indicated Pearl was the daughter of Richard E.C. George and Minnie Pierce and that Pearl had been once previously married (not true). Her occupation was rubber worker. She was born in Mt. Grove, VA. Norman Paul Wright born in Denver, CO (not true, born in OH), occupation Laborer, son of Noel Wright and Mary Jones (not true. Mother was Mary John). Married once previously now a widower. Information sworn as true and signed by both! Pearl provided incorrect age information as well. Apparently the couple did not marry. I mention this event because it is possible they married and divorced quickly.

30 Aug 1952 – Summit County marriage certificate reports that John Stropher Courtney and Mrs Pearl Victoria Poland married on 30 Aug 52 at St Andrew’s Church, Berberton, Summit, OH. Filed and recorded 08 Sep 52.

21 Sep 52 – Beacon rpts Mrs Pearl Poland and John S. Courtney married. She was daughter of Richard George and late Mrs George. Clyde George (her brother) was best man.

28 Jan 1958 – Mrs Victoria Poland, 49 (not her correct age), is in fairly good condition in Akron hospital with injuries suffered when she was struck by a car. Driver not held.

Many times over the next 29 years, Pearl published in memoriams in the Beacon. Most read: In loving memory of my dear son Eugene Richard Poland on his birthday June 4 who died Feb 20, 1943 while he was serving in the Navy. Sadly missed by his mother Victoria Poland.

I’m sure that from the time of Eugene’s death on 19 Feb 1942 until Pearl’s death on 12 Oct 1987 that her grief was almost unrelenting. She had lost her only child. And to make matters worse, his remains were unrecoverable so there was no place for her to visit him. It is unfortunate that she didn’t know that the VA had received congressional approval in 1959 to pay for cenotaphs to be placed in family designated cemeteries to commemorate those who were missing during WWII.

Update on Bernard Daniel Poland. Prior to receiving Eugene’s birth certificate from the Virginia Division of Vital Records, I was unable to find any information about Bernard. The birth certificate provided his full name of Bernard Daniel Poland, his age, 38, and place of birth of Illinois. I didn’t know that he was almost 20 years older than Pearl. When I put the vital record information into the Ancestry search it blossomed with information. After he and Pearl divorced, Bernard married Edna Mae (Brackett) Stark, a 26 year old widow, on 13 May 1924 in Lincoln county, WI. She had four children, the youngest being 4 years of age. She and Bernard remained married until the late 1940s when they divorced. Bernard, 70, died on 17 Jan 1950 in St Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield, Wood, Wisconsin of a pulmonary embolism caused by injuries suffered when he was hit by a car while crossing a street in Marshfield. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsboro, Montgomery, Illinois

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Primary Sources:

1) Cox, Jeffery R., Rising Sun, Falling Skies, Osprey Publishing, UK, 2015.

2) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., In the Highest Degree Tragic, The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies During World War II, Potomac Books, 2017.

3) Various Newspaper articles

4) Deck logs USS Peary retrieved 15 November 2021.

5) Northern Territory Library Roll of Honour: Browse location.

6) Wikipedia page, USS Peary (DD-226), Retrieved 12 November 2021.

7) Wilde, E. Andrew, Jr. (Ed). U.S.S. Peary (DD-226) in World War II, Manila to Darwin, 12/10/41-2/19/42: Needham, Mass. : The Editor, 2007. http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/226peary_wilde.pdf

9) Fold3 by Ancestry Navy Muster reports and Change reports

10) Ancestry.com Navy WWII muster and Change reports

11) Certificate of Vital Record. Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Health – Division of Vital Records, Certificate of Live Birth of Eugene Richard Poland. Obtained by this compiler on 29 July 2022.

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Link to USS Peary memorial in Darwin, Australia with list of names of those lost in the sinking of the ship. It's a cenotaph. https://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/monuments_memorials/uss_peary_memorial.htm

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Bio#385 compiled by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)

Military Hall of Honor ID#157172. A copy of Eugene's birth cert., is in the photo section.

Find A Grave Memorial Page #241001428