CURTIS O’NEAL (middle name not used) RODGERS, also known as Curt, was born on 15 May 1909 (see note at end for explanation of middle name and date of birth differences.) in Wacoochee, Lee, Alabama (AL) a son of Richard Alexander “Bud” and Effie Leona (Hood) Rodgers. They married on 23 Jun 1907 in Mechanicsville, Lee, AL. Curtis was the eldest of five children; Richard Alexander Jr., (1911-1998), Bernard, (1914-1998), Amos James (1919-1984), and Sara Ann Rodgers Rucker (1925-2007). According to the 1920 US Census, the first three Rodgers' children were born in Lee county, AL while the last two were born in West Point, Troup, Georgia (GA).

Bud Rodgers, a native of Lee county AL, earned his living by farming until 1919 when he made a monumental change in his occupation. From 1919 until he retired Bud worked as a carpenter for a local building construction company. Over time he earned a promotion to foreman. During the Great Depression Curtis and his brothers worked when they could find it to help their father with the family finances. Suddenly on 04 Dec 1938, Mrs Effie Leona Rodgers died from post operative ether pneumonia. Her death cast a pall over the entire family.

By 1940, Curtis, now almost 30 years old, seemingly without a trade (he had worked as a molder) like many of his contemporaries, was soon lured to the opportunities available in the US military services. A steady income to help the family with expenses, adventure and the chance to learn a trade and just plain patriotism pulled strongly on many youth of the day including Curtis. He submitted a US Navy application for enlistment on 29 March 1940 at the Naval Recruiting Station (NRS) in Columbus, Muskogee, GA where he completed preliminary entrance examinations, submitted personal references, completed administrative paperwork and passed background checks. Rodgers was accepted for enlistment on 12 April 1940 at Columbus. With 10 other navy recruits, Curtis completed his physical and dental exams, took the Oath of Allegiance and enlisted in the US Navy at the regional NRS, Macon, Bibb, GA for a term of 6 years on 18 April 1940. His beginning rate was Apprentice Seaman (AS) and the pay was $21.00 a month. His navy service number (NSN) was 268-44-95.

Curtis boarded a train with the other recruits for the nearly 600 mile trip to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Norfolk, VA where they arrived on 19 Apr, and they began about 8 weeks of recruit training. During this training, Curtis was selected to attended the Navy Ordnance Class “A” school at NTS, Norfolk, VA. Curtis graduated from recruit training on 21 June 1940. After he graduated from recruit training, AS Rodgers was granted several weeks of leave to visit family and friends prior to beginning Class “A” School in Norfolk. He began the 16 week school on 15 July 1940. During “A” school, AS Rodgers advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c) on 18 Aug 1940. S2c Rodgers graduated on 31 Oct 1940 with a final grade of 93.30. He was now qualified to strike for Aviation Ordnanceman. On 14 Dec 1940, Rodgers transferred to the Receiving Ship (RS) in San Diego to await further orders. He reported to RS, San Diego on 19 Dec where he received orders to report for duty to the aircraft carrier, USS Lexington (CV-2) on 10 Jan 1941.

On 10 Jan 41, S2c Rodgers detached from RS San Diego and reported for duty on board Lexington later that day in San Diego. In May of 41, Lexington was repositioned to Pearl Harbor after Fleet Exercise XXI. S2c Rodgers advanced in rate to Seaman First Class (S1c) on 01 July 41. With tensions between the United States and Japan reaching dangerous levels in 1940, the US Navy Department began sending many more sailors to the Asiatic Fleet which was suffering from years of neglect in manning and upkeep. To fill manning short-falls in the Asiatic Fleet, sailors like S1c Rodgers received orders to detach from Lexington on 13 Aug 41 and proceed via the transport ship, USS Henderson (AP-1), to Asiatic Station (ASTA) at Manila for assignment.

Rodgers reported to the Receiving Station at Pearl Harbor the same day to await Henderson's arrival the following week on 21 August 41. Rodgers reported on board as a passenger for his ride across the Pacific to Manila the same day. On 23 Aug, Henderson steamed out of Pearl Harbor bound for China via Guam and Manila. She steamed into Manila Bay on 16 Sept 41 where Rodgers disembarked and transferred to the Receiving Station, Cavite, Philippines where he received orders to report for duty to Patrol Wing Ten (PATWING 10). Over the next several months, PBYs of PATWING 10 increased their long range surveillance over the waters of the South China Sea and littoral waters around the Philippines as the probability of conflict with Japan edged closer.

On Tuesday, 25 November 1941, two days in advance of the "war warning" from the Navy Department which predicted that hostile Japanese action in the Pacific was imminent, Admiral Thomas Hart, Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet directed his ships including destroyer tender USS Black Hawk (AD-9), and other ships of Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Nine (DesRon) 29, to get underway and exercise his “Defensive Deployment” well south of Manila. The ships arrived on the morning of 29 Nov 1941 in Balikpapan, a major oil port on the eastern coast of Borneo. Some ships remained at Cavite for operational purposes. USS Peary (DD-226) was one of four destroyers to remain in Cavite with the USS Pillsbury (DD-227), USS Pope (DD-225) and USS John D. Ford (DD-228).

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." Several days later all hell broke loose at Manila Bay! Wednesday morning, 10 Dec 1941 in Manila broke with clear skies. Just passed high noon and without warning, scores of Japanese fighters and bombers appeared overhead and commenced to wreak havoc on the naval facilities and ships still inport. When the attack was over, most of the naval base was reduced to rubble. Peary had been struck by a bomb which caused extensive damage. A number of her crew were killed, wounded and missing further reducing her manning complement further below acceptable levels.

After the 10 Dec attack, Peary’s remaining crew set to work repairing their ship. 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. Because a large number of Peary's crew were lost, a call for replacements was made by Peary's CO to COMAF and Commandant, Sixteenth Naval District (COM16ND) in Manila. Many sailors from other commands would be transferred to Peary over the next several weeks to help fill her manning shortages. On 23 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. She returned to port late on 24 Dec. On Christmas Day, she made passenger pick-up and delivery runs to Corregidor and Manila. According to Peary’s 25 Dec deck log entry, S1c Curtis Rodgers received orders from the COM16ND in Manila to detach from PATWING 10 and report for duty to Peary on 25 Dec 1941.

The day after Christmas 1941, the CO's of Pillsbury and Peary were ashore at a conference with COM16ND, Admiral Rockwell, to discuss releasing their 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. Peary’s new CO, Lt Bermingham, watched from ashore as his new executive officer, Lt Martin M. Koivisto, skillfully 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. Peary’s CO changed her track and destination to Darwin, Australia. Peary traveled only by night and during the day she was brought close to shore and tied up to trees and covered 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.

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 on Peary kept up continuous fire at the enemy planes. She maneuvered successfully avoiding the bombs while her gun crews threw up a curtain of anti-aircraft fire.

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 returned to 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 her 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 had been 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 then assumed submarine escort duties.

On 29 Jan 1942, Peary steamed from Darwin bound for the island of Timor on a secret mission. She was to deliver a “special duty” contingent of sixteen US Army personnel, 100 drums (5300 gal) of avgas and 50 gallons of lube oil after midnight on 31 Jan 1942 to a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) field. The fuel and lubricant was to be used by US Army Air Force P-40s in the defense of Java. Five Peary crewmen manned the motor whaleboat used to ferry the men and cargo ashore. Problems quickly developed. As the boat approached the shore it went aground and due to broaching seas it could not be towed clear. Because of the high sea state, it was not possible to remove the crew or return to them to the ship. The motor whaleboat crew were left ashore until such time as the tides shifted and seas moderated before they could be returned to the ship.

She resumed her anti-submarine escort duties 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 an elusive Japanese submarine contact which reduced her fuel supply such that she had to return to Port Darwin to refuel. Her luck was about to run out.

Peary returned to Port Darwin and anchored about 0100, 19 Feb 1942. About 1045, Port Darwin was subject to a massive air attack 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. She sank, stern first with her anti-aircraft guns still firing as the last enemy planes left the area.

Eighty-eight officers and men including the commanding officer were killed in her sinking; 57 survived, 20 of whom were wounded. S1c Rodgers was believed to have gone down with his ship. He was listed as missing in action on 19 Feb 1942. On 10 April 1942, Mr. Richard Rodgers received a telegram from the Navy Department. It read in part; "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, Curtis Rodgers, Seaman First Class, US Navy is missing following action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country."

The following year, Mr. Richard Alexander Rodgers of West Point, Georgia, received a letter from Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, Chief of Naval Personnel, dated 11 March 1943. It read;

"As you no doubt realize, more than a year has elapsed since your son, Curtis Rodgers, Seaman First Class, United States Navy, was placed in the status of "missing". He was a member of the crew and serving aboard the U.S.S. Peary when that vessel was sunk in the Port of Darwin, Australia on the 19th of February, 1942, as a result of enemy action.

Public Law 490, 77th Congress, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to continue Navy personnel in a "missing" status if there is no acceptable proof of their death. Pursuant to this law, this Bureau conducted a research for all available information surrounding the loss of the U.S.S. Peary in an effort to determine the true fate of the personnel serving aboard that ship. In checking the delayed burial reports it was brought to light that your son, Curtis Rodgers, did in fact lose his life on February 19th, 1942, and was buried at sea the following day. It is with great misgiving that the Bureau communicates to you this sad news, although the absence of news concerning your son during the past twelve months must have given you little hope of his having survived the loss of his ship.

The various agencies of the Government, concerned in the payment of insurance and death benefits, are being properly informed as to the fate of your son, that the proper blanks upon which to file application for such benefits may be forwarded to you. For the purposes of settling the commercial insurance carried by your son an official certification of death will be furnished by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, this Department, upon your request.

Taking this opportunity to assure you of my sincere sympathy, and trust that through faith in God you may find comfort and strength to assuage your profound grief, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Randall Jacobs

Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

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According to US Navy enlistment papers found in the navy service record for S1c Curtis Rodgers, Curtis’ father certified that his son’s birth day was 15 May 1912 which it was not. Based on 3 US Census reports and a life insurance policy issued on the life of Curtis O’Neal Rodgers by The Life Insurance Company of Virginia in Richmond, VA, Curtis' birth date was 15 May 1909. The insurance company had been advised of the death of the insured: Curtis O’Neal Rodgers, Seaman First Class; born 15 May 1909 in Georgia. The state is a mistake, it should be Alabama, but Curtis did live in Georgia starting about 1917. The insurance company sent a letter to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department that is dated 01 May 1942 requesting a death certificate to adjudicate the claim. The Bureau of Naval Personnel recognized this insured as the same Curtis Rodgers, son of Richard A. and Effie L. (Hood) Rodgers in a response letter dated 12 Jun 1942. It also penciled on the insurance company letter comments about the date and nativity differences. No further information is available about this correspondence exchange until the letter above dated 11 March 1943 in which the Navy acknowledges that Curtis carried a commercial insure policy.

On 01 Apr 1910 the US Census for Lee County, AL was to begin. Richard A. and Effie Rodgers were enumerated with an 11 month old son, Curtis Rodgers by name. His date of birth is estimated as about May 1909. During the US Navy enlistment process for Curtis it was necessary for the applicant to present a certified birth certificate. Apparently, none existed. For some reason, Richard and his son claimed via a US Navy Age Certificate that Curtis was born 15 May 1912 in Lee County, AL. That document was then sent to the Lee County Health Department which issued a delay certificate of birth for Curtis Rodgers and that information was also added to the birth records of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics in Montgomery, Alabama. The date difference could have been an honest mistake or there could be a different motive. Reviewing the physical exam information I noticed that Curtis was under the Navy’s minimum required weight for his height and age. That fact was pointed out in his physical records. It also may have something to do with his age. He was enlisted on 18 Apr 1940, about a month before he would be 30 years old. That combination of being 3 years older may have pushed the minimum weight limit even higher so instead of there being a 12 lb difference the gap may have become too high to waive. The weight discrepancy was waived using the incorrect date of birth. Rodgers’ weight was 145 lbs and the navy’s minimum at that time for his claimed age of 27 was 157 lbs. In any case, Curtis who apparently has a middle name of O’Neal that was not used, was not born in 1912 but in 1909.

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Seaman Rodgers was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal, Navy Combat Action Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, 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), US Army Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Defense Medal with a bronze service star, and the WWII Victory Medal.

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

In grateful memory of Curtis RODGERS, who died in the service of his country at Darwin, Australia, ATTACHED U.S.S. Peary, 19 February 1942. 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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Citation of Units of Both Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Philippine Governments.

--489--

As authorized by Executive Order No. 9075 (sec. II, Bull. 11, W.D., 1942), a citation in the name of the President of the United States, as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction, is awarded to all units of both military and naval forces of the United States and Philippine Governments engaged in the defense of the Philippines since December 7, 1941. (Later, it was called the Army Presidential Unit Citation).

By order of the Secretary of War:

G. C. MARSHALL,

Chief of Staff.

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Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation

Establishing Authority

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation was established by Headquarters, Philippine National Defense Forces, General Order Number 532 of September 14, 1946, as amended.

Acceptance by the United States:

For service during World War II, acceptance is sanctioned by Public Law 80-314, which authorized the acceptance and wear of foreign decoration, medals, and awards in connection with services in World War II between the inclusive dates of December 7, 1941 and July 24, 1948.

Effective Dates:

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation has been in effect since September 14, 1946.

Criteria

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is awarded for extraordinarily meritorious service. The Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded to United States military personnel who participated in the following:

• World War II

Service in the defense of the Philippines from December 7, 1941 to May 10, 1942.

Service in the liberation of the Philippines from October 17, 1944 to July 4, 1945.

All U.S. military units and naval vessels that earned any of the Philippine engagement stars are entitled to the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.

Certain submarines which maintained physical contact with guerrilla forces during the Japanese occupation of the Philippine Islands.

Online: https://rollofhonor.org/public/htmldetails.aspx?Cat=foreignaward&EntID=352

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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) Deck logs USS Peary retrieved 15 November 2021.

4) Northern Territory Library Roll of Honour: Browse location. www.ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 20 November 2021. URL may not work.

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

6) 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

7) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., A Blue Sea of Blood: deciphering the mysterious fate of the USS Edsall, Zenith Press, 2008.

8) Fold3 by Ancestry Navy Muster reports and Change reports

9) Ancestry.com Navy WWII muster and Change reports

10) Rodgers, Curtis, US Navy Service Record, National Archives and Records Administration, St Louis, MO. Retrieved 22 Jun 2023.

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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 sketch #419 compiled on 05 May 2023 by Gerry Lawton

Military Hall of Honor ID#159647

Find a Grave Memorial ID: #253345632