American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
| May 25, 2009 Memorial Day Pelham, New York Ceremony Presentation Pelham's Heroes of 1944 |
Memorial Day 2009
Commander Frank Barbieri: In recent years a tradition at Pelham's Memorial Day
ceremonies is the reading of the stories of Pelham residents who have died during military
service.
Today to lead our presentation is:
Kenneth G. Kraetzer
Squadron 50 Commander
Westchester County Historian
Vice Commander for the Detachment of New York
For the Sons of the American Legion.
Good Afternoon, Grand Marshall Joe Solimine, members of the dais, veterans, our
distinguished military visitors, and friends,
“Isn’t this a great day to be in Pelham?
To our veterans and members of the active military, may I say the eight words you all
deserve to hear often,
“Thank you for your service to our country”.
Today for a few moments we would like to take you back in time 65 years, to one of the
most challenging times in American history. In 1944, from our community of Pelham over
1,600 residents had left their families to serve in the military. Many were already overseas
and many more were planning to leave for what we now call deployments. Many members
of the Pelham memorial High School class of 1944 left school early to join the fight, by end
of year many would find themselves in distant lands.
On the home front there was support and sacrifice, rationing of gasoline and many food
items, collections of tin and other metals, sales of war bonds and the knitting of wool
blankets all to support the war effort.
For several years Post 50 and the Sons of the American Legion have been researching
the stories about those from Pelham who we remember on Memorial Day. This year is the
65th anniversary of many of the most famous battles in American history at places like
Anzio, Normandy, Saipan and Leyte Gulf, we decided to focus on 1944.
To help tell you these stories of Pelham heroes, I am pleased to have with us today five
Pelham Memorial High School seniors:
To tell us the story of the US Army in 1944 Europe is Garrett Johnson
In 1944 The US Army fought its way through Monte Cassino and Anzio and later across
Europe from landings made at Normandy and from southern France. Many soldiers from
Pelham were part of US forces reclaiming Western Europe. By year end, Rome and Paris
had been liberated. Casualties mounted. As is the legacy of many infantrymen, often little
is documented about what happened to them.
Vernon A. Biederman, of Third Ave, North Pelham a US Army sergeant was killed in
action in France July 11,1944
Americo Colautti, lived at Fifth Avenue, a member of the PMHS class of 1941. He joined
the US Army and was assigned to the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division .
Private Colautti was killed in action Sept. 1st. 1944 in France. He is interred at the
Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France,
Robert A. Gordon, of Fourth Street, in Pelham at age 29 was a member of the 45th
Infantry Division. The infantryman went overseas in March of 1944 and saw action in Italy
before participating in the invasion of France. He was killed in action in Northeast France
on October 13th, 1944. Private First Class Gordon is interred at Epinal American
Cemetery in France.
Maurice K. Collette, grew up on Manor Lane and was an avid golfer at PMHS and at
Princeton University. Maurice was commissioned into the US Army in 1943, and went
overseas in November of 1944, with the 80th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Collette, just a
month after arriving in Europe, was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, near
Bastogne, France. On March 9th of 1945 his parents were notified of his death on
December 24th 1944. Lt. Maurice K. Collette is interred at the Luxembourg American
Cemetery, Luxembourg.
KGK: Thank you Garett
To tell the story of Pelhamites who flew over the skies of Europe in 1944, we have
Nicole Rood:
Supporting the infantry on the ground was an intense air battle over Western Europe.
Many Pelham residents volunteered to train in aviation becoming bomber and fighter plane
pilots. Casualties were high.
Paul A. McCarthy lived on the Esplanade in Pelham Manor, he played on the football and
basketball teams as a member of the PMHS class of 1939. Paul became a B24 Liberator
pilot assigned to the 15th Army Air Force, On June 26th 1944, flying from Italy, 2nd Lt
McCarthy was the pilot of a crew of ten flying on a mission to bomb oil refineries northwest
of Vienna in Austria. His plane was shot down by two enemy fighter planes. He was
interred at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
James H. Scott, lived on Hill Street and was a PMHS graduate. The US Army Air Corps
Lieutenant was the navigator on another B24 flying from Italy. His plane was reported
missing in action on July 30th 1944 over Hungary.
Richard Lewis Elliot, of the Pelham Biltmore Apartments, competed in track, cross
country, football and baseball as a member of the PMHS Class of 1940. He left Lehigh
University to enlist and trained as a US Army Air Force bomber pilot.
On Dec. 23, 1944 Lt. Elliot was flying as a passenger in a B24G on a mission to ferry a
plane from base in Italy in another . Trying to fly through snow and fog, the plane was
forty miles off course and crashed into a mountain at 4,200 feet. The plane was reported
as completely destroyed.
Later that same day, First Lieutenant Ellsworth Totten, III U.S. Army Air Force
received a message that a pilot was missing and he took off to search in his Douglas A20.
A member of PMHS class of 1938, Ellsworth Totten was a four year letter man in both
cross country and track, holder of the school’s half mile record, and captain of the cross
country team
Shortly after take off on that December day two days before Christmas, Lt. Totten’s plane
developed a malfunction and crashed into the sea several miles out. There was no signs
of any survivors.
Lt. Totten is memorialized in the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea, Tablets of the Missing
at the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
KGK: Thank you Nicole.
To tell us about the Home Front: we have Jesse Clain:
In 1944 pilots were being trained in record numbers, air patrols were being flown along the
coasts, and military members were being flown across the country when train service was
not fast enough. These war time activities contributed to an extraordinary number of tragic
events:
John H. MacManus, lived on Clay Street in Pelham Manor, he was in training as an Air
Cadet when on March 17, 1944, he was killed as a passenger in a car accident on
Pelhamdale Avenue.
Gardner Caldwell, of Fowler Avenue, graduated from PMHS in January 1943. He
enlisted in the Marines and trained first as a radio operator then later as an aerial gunner
and was promoted to Sergeant on Dec. 24th. Caldwell turned age 20 on May 4th of 1944.
On May 19th, Caldwell was among 13 Marines who died in the crash of a Navy patrol plane
near the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, N.C.
Joseph Michael Shields, Jr. lived on James Street. He joined the US Marine Corps and
was commissioned an officer. On August 8, 1944 the New York Times reported that Lt.
Shields had died in the performance of his duties two days before on August 6, 1944 at
the US Naval Air Station, in Oklahoma.
Irving Whitall Lyon, of Manning Circle, Pelham Manor, was a member of the PMHS class
of 1943. Growing up he was active with in the Boy Scouts and was leader of the Pelham
School Band.
Lyon, enlisted in the Air Corps, in 1942, and became a radio operator and a serial gunner.
On August 9, 1944 . 20 year old Sergeant Lyon was killed in the crash of a medium
bomber in Louisianna along with five other crewman.
Harold Roger Sweeney, of Pelhamdale Ave., graduated PMHS in 1935 and attended
Manhattan College and Notre Dame. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps. and was a
veteran of 19 months service in the Pacific. The Technical Sergeant was reported killed
Oct. 9, 1944 in an airplane accident, near Plymouth, N.C.
Robert W. Swanson, was the grandson of the publisher of the Pelham Sun. He
graduated from PMHS in Jan. 1943, and was commissioned into the US Army Air Force on
Aug. 7th of that year. On October 13th, 1944 in Mississippi, Second Lieutenant Swanson
was killed when the Flying Fortress in which he was on combat training, collided with a
pursuit plane.
Paul Eugene Bowen, lived on Manor Lane, and was a member of the PMHS Class of
1942. He was attending the University of Cincinnati when he enlisted in the US Army Air
Force in 1943.
Bowen trained to be a navigator and was commissioned a Lt on Sept. 4th 1944. Two
months later his parents received a telegram that their son was one of three fliers killed in
an airplane crash at noon on November 2nd, 1944, the third Pelham resident lost in a
domestic plane crash in less than a month.
KGK: Thank You Jesse.
To tell us about the heroism of Pelhamites in the Pacific we have Madison Darbyshire
In 1944 the US military was implementing its strategy of taking back the Pacific by
neutralizing the enemy fleet, invading key islands that would allow air bases to built, and
preparing for the inevitable invasion of Japan. Many Pelham residents served in the fight.
Francis Kennedy Gundlach Jr., attended Siwanoy School, PMHS and Iona.
Gundlach joined the US Marine Corps and became a highly decorated pilot. On February
10, 1944, as a member of Marine Torpedo Squadron 143, he flew a mission from a base in
Bougainville when his plane crashed in New Britain. Remains of the three crew members
were not found until 1949. Gundlach and his two crewmembers are interred at section 34
of Arlington National Cemetery.
David B. Tarrant, lived on Pelhamdale Avenue and attended Pelham schools He held a
commission in the reserves with the Seventh Regiment was called to duty in February
1941. Early in 1944 the Army Captain participated in the invasion of the Marshall Islands,
and later was taking part in the invasion of Saipan when killed in action on June 27th
1944.
Richard H. Mullineaux, competed in track and cross country as a member of the PMHS
Class of 1939. He became a fighter pilot with the US Army Air Force and served with the
75th Fighter Squadron, which was better known as the famous "Flying Tigers", a squadron
formed to fly from airfields in China.
On July 23, 1944, Lt. Mullineaux was flying on a mission in a P40 across China. he was
observed by a fellow squadron member to make a "Low level attack and then crash into
the ground".
Henry Harrison Ives, graduated from Siwanoy School and PMHS. He was a volunteer in
the Pelham Manor Fire Department, and an avid marathon runner.
Ives enlisted in the Marine Corps and was assigned to the Twenty-Second Marines. His
unit fought in the invasion of Saipan in June of 1944 and then landed on July 21st to
retake the island of Quam. On July 25, 1944, Corporal Ives was killed in Action, one of
1,747 Americans who died and 6,053 wounded at Guam. Members of the Pelham Fire
Department, praised Ives, “He was the kind of Marine who went right in and did the job
regardless of his personal safety”.
Clarence George Campbell, grew up at 440 Pelhamdale Avenue and graduated from
PMHS and Wesleyan University. He enlisted in the Navy in May of 1941 and became a
torpedo bomber pilot.
On August 4th 1944, Lt. Campbell and his two man crew flew a mission from the USS
Hornet. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism that day The citation from
Secretary of the Navy, James Forestal read:
“Flying under extremely adverse weather conditions and in the face of intense anti-aircraft
fire, Lt. Campbell pressed home a determined, aggressive attack on a large enemy
destroyer and when his torpedo failed to release, unhesitatingly turned his damaged plane
back and made a second powerful daring run, accurately scoring a direct hit amid-ships
and leaving the hostile vessel in a sinking condition.”
“Forced to effect an emergency landing as a result of the severe damage inflicted on his
craft during the engagement, he skillfully set the plane down in the heavy seas without
injury to his crewmen, and provided for their escape before he himself succumbed. Lt.
Campbell’s superb airmanship, indomitable fighting spirit and great personal valor
throughout this perilous mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval
Service. ”
KGK: Thank you Madison
To tell us about Pelham’s role in the great battle of Leyte Gulf, we have Will Sawyer
In late October of 1944 one of the greatest Naval Battle in history was fought for control of
the Philippine Islands, the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Over 600 ships and half a million men were
involved.
John Mathew Ring, lived on Francis Street in Pelham Manor. At PMHS he participated
in football, track, and hockey while also serving as President of the debating team.
Ring enlisted in the US Naval Reserve V-5 training class in 1942 and was commissioned
an Ensign in Oct. of 1943. He was designated a Naval Aviator and was assigned to duty in
January of 1944 on board the Escort Carrier USS Chenango.
On October 25, 1944 the main American fleet had been diverted away from the landings
being made at Leyte Gulf and a fleet of Japanese battleships was able to gain position for
an attack that threatened the beachfront established by General Douglas McArthur.
"Two Pelham pilots were among those in the Navy who stood in the way".
A squadron of escort carriers and destroyers known to the world as “Taffy Three” had
been left to guard the landing beaches and the support ships off Leyte Gulf. Flying from
the carrier USS Langley, was Ensign John Ring. He served as a wingman in a bombing
attack against a Japanese cruiser. Ring's plane was hit by anti aircraft fire and fell out of
control from the formation. Several squadron officers saw the plane hit the water behind
the Japanese ship.
Ralph A. Rhodes, grew up on NYAC Avenue in Pelham, and went to Colgate University.
He became a dive bomber pilot who flew at Guadalcanal. In the fall of 1944 Rhodes was a
squadron commander on board the large carrier USS Hancock which was speeding back
to the Leyte beachfront area after having pursued another enemy fleet. On the same day
as Ensign Ring made his fateful mission, flying at extreme range from his carrier,
Lieutenant Rhodes pressed home an attack despite intense anti-aircraft fire and scored a
direct hit on an enemy battleship.
Lt. Rhodes was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism. John Michael Ring Is
Memorialized on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
The next day the surviving ships of the enemy fleet sailed away from Leyte Gulf, defeated
in the end by many brave Americans including two pilots from Pelham.
KGK: Thank you Will.
We are proud to have presented the stories of these Pelham heroes. The research
presented is from local newspapers of the era, several historical websites, WWII aircraft
accident reports, and records of the National Archives. Additional information is available
on the Post 50 website Legion Post 50 NY.com.
May I ask for a round of applause for our five Pelham Memorial High School seniors:
Garrett Johnson
Nicole Rood
Jesse Clain:
Madison Darbyshire
Will Sawyer
Thank You
Commander Frank Barbieri: In recent years a tradition at Pelham's Memorial Day
ceremonies is the reading of the stories of Pelham residents who have died during military
service.
Today to lead our presentation is:
Kenneth G. Kraetzer
Squadron 50 Commander
Westchester County Historian
Vice Commander for the Detachment of New York
For the Sons of the American Legion.
Good Afternoon, Grand Marshall Joe Solimine, members of the dais, veterans, our
distinguished military visitors, and friends,
“Isn’t this a great day to be in Pelham?
To our veterans and members of the active military, may I say the eight words you all
deserve to hear often,
“Thank you for your service to our country”.
Today for a few moments we would like to take you back in time 65 years, to one of the
most challenging times in American history. In 1944, from our community of Pelham over
1,600 residents had left their families to serve in the military. Many were already overseas
and many more were planning to leave for what we now call deployments. Many members
of the Pelham memorial High School class of 1944 left school early to join the fight, by end
of year many would find themselves in distant lands.
On the home front there was support and sacrifice, rationing of gasoline and many food
items, collections of tin and other metals, sales of war bonds and the knitting of wool
blankets all to support the war effort.
For several years Post 50 and the Sons of the American Legion have been researching
the stories about those from Pelham who we remember on Memorial Day. This year is the
65th anniversary of many of the most famous battles in American history at places like
Anzio, Normandy, Saipan and Leyte Gulf, we decided to focus on 1944.
To help tell you these stories of Pelham heroes, I am pleased to have with us today five
Pelham Memorial High School seniors:
To tell us the story of the US Army in 1944 Europe is Garrett Johnson
In 1944 The US Army fought its way through Monte Cassino and Anzio and later across
Europe from landings made at Normandy and from southern France. Many soldiers from
Pelham were part of US forces reclaiming Western Europe. By year end, Rome and Paris
had been liberated. Casualties mounted. As is the legacy of many infantrymen, often little
is documented about what happened to them.
Vernon A. Biederman, of Third Ave, North Pelham a US Army sergeant was killed in
action in France July 11,1944
Americo Colautti, lived at Fifth Avenue, a member of the PMHS class of 1941. He joined
the US Army and was assigned to the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division .
Private Colautti was killed in action Sept. 1st. 1944 in France. He is interred at the
Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France,
Robert A. Gordon, of Fourth Street, in Pelham at age 29 was a member of the 45th
Infantry Division. The infantryman went overseas in March of 1944 and saw action in Italy
before participating in the invasion of France. He was killed in action in Northeast France
on October 13th, 1944. Private First Class Gordon is interred at Epinal American
Cemetery in France.
Maurice K. Collette, grew up on Manor Lane and was an avid golfer at PMHS and at
Princeton University. Maurice was commissioned into the US Army in 1943, and went
overseas in November of 1944, with the 80th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Collette, just a
month after arriving in Europe, was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, near
Bastogne, France. On March 9th of 1945 his parents were notified of his death on
December 24th 1944. Lt. Maurice K. Collette is interred at the Luxembourg American
Cemetery, Luxembourg.
KGK: Thank you Garett
To tell the story of Pelhamites who flew over the skies of Europe in 1944, we have
Nicole Rood:
Supporting the infantry on the ground was an intense air battle over Western Europe.
Many Pelham residents volunteered to train in aviation becoming bomber and fighter plane
pilots. Casualties were high.
Paul A. McCarthy lived on the Esplanade in Pelham Manor, he played on the football and
basketball teams as a member of the PMHS class of 1939. Paul became a B24 Liberator
pilot assigned to the 15th Army Air Force, On June 26th 1944, flying from Italy, 2nd Lt
McCarthy was the pilot of a crew of ten flying on a mission to bomb oil refineries northwest
of Vienna in Austria. His plane was shot down by two enemy fighter planes. He was
interred at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
James H. Scott, lived on Hill Street and was a PMHS graduate. The US Army Air Corps
Lieutenant was the navigator on another B24 flying from Italy. His plane was reported
missing in action on July 30th 1944 over Hungary.
Richard Lewis Elliot, of the Pelham Biltmore Apartments, competed in track, cross
country, football and baseball as a member of the PMHS Class of 1940. He left Lehigh
University to enlist and trained as a US Army Air Force bomber pilot.
On Dec. 23, 1944 Lt. Elliot was flying as a passenger in a B24G on a mission to ferry a
plane from base in Italy in another . Trying to fly through snow and fog, the plane was
forty miles off course and crashed into a mountain at 4,200 feet. The plane was reported
as completely destroyed.
Later that same day, First Lieutenant Ellsworth Totten, III U.S. Army Air Force
received a message that a pilot was missing and he took off to search in his Douglas A20.
A member of PMHS class of 1938, Ellsworth Totten was a four year letter man in both
cross country and track, holder of the school’s half mile record, and captain of the cross
country team
Shortly after take off on that December day two days before Christmas, Lt. Totten’s plane
developed a malfunction and crashed into the sea several miles out. There was no signs
of any survivors.
Lt. Totten is memorialized in the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea, Tablets of the Missing
at the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
KGK: Thank you Nicole.
To tell us about the Home Front: we have Jesse Clain:
In 1944 pilots were being trained in record numbers, air patrols were being flown along the
coasts, and military members were being flown across the country when train service was
not fast enough. These war time activities contributed to an extraordinary number of tragic
events:
John H. MacManus, lived on Clay Street in Pelham Manor, he was in training as an Air
Cadet when on March 17, 1944, he was killed as a passenger in a car accident on
Pelhamdale Avenue.
Gardner Caldwell, of Fowler Avenue, graduated from PMHS in January 1943. He
enlisted in the Marines and trained first as a radio operator then later as an aerial gunner
and was promoted to Sergeant on Dec. 24th. Caldwell turned age 20 on May 4th of 1944.
On May 19th, Caldwell was among 13 Marines who died in the crash of a Navy patrol plane
near the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, N.C.
Joseph Michael Shields, Jr. lived on James Street. He joined the US Marine Corps and
was commissioned an officer. On August 8, 1944 the New York Times reported that Lt.
Shields had died in the performance of his duties two days before on August 6, 1944 at
the US Naval Air Station, in Oklahoma.
Irving Whitall Lyon, of Manning Circle, Pelham Manor, was a member of the PMHS class
of 1943. Growing up he was active with in the Boy Scouts and was leader of the Pelham
School Band.
Lyon, enlisted in the Air Corps, in 1942, and became a radio operator and a serial gunner.
On August 9, 1944 . 20 year old Sergeant Lyon was killed in the crash of a medium
bomber in Louisianna along with five other crewman.
Harold Roger Sweeney, of Pelhamdale Ave., graduated PMHS in 1935 and attended
Manhattan College and Notre Dame. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps. and was a
veteran of 19 months service in the Pacific. The Technical Sergeant was reported killed
Oct. 9, 1944 in an airplane accident, near Plymouth, N.C.
Robert W. Swanson, was the grandson of the publisher of the Pelham Sun. He
graduated from PMHS in Jan. 1943, and was commissioned into the US Army Air Force on
Aug. 7th of that year. On October 13th, 1944 in Mississippi, Second Lieutenant Swanson
was killed when the Flying Fortress in which he was on combat training, collided with a
pursuit plane.
Paul Eugene Bowen, lived on Manor Lane, and was a member of the PMHS Class of
1942. He was attending the University of Cincinnati when he enlisted in the US Army Air
Force in 1943.
Bowen trained to be a navigator and was commissioned a Lt on Sept. 4th 1944. Two
months later his parents received a telegram that their son was one of three fliers killed in
an airplane crash at noon on November 2nd, 1944, the third Pelham resident lost in a
domestic plane crash in less than a month.
KGK: Thank You Jesse.
To tell us about the heroism of Pelhamites in the Pacific we have Madison Darbyshire
In 1944 the US military was implementing its strategy of taking back the Pacific by
neutralizing the enemy fleet, invading key islands that would allow air bases to built, and
preparing for the inevitable invasion of Japan. Many Pelham residents served in the fight.
Francis Kennedy Gundlach Jr., attended Siwanoy School, PMHS and Iona.
Gundlach joined the US Marine Corps and became a highly decorated pilot. On February
10, 1944, as a member of Marine Torpedo Squadron 143, he flew a mission from a base in
Bougainville when his plane crashed in New Britain. Remains of the three crew members
were not found until 1949. Gundlach and his two crewmembers are interred at section 34
of Arlington National Cemetery.
David B. Tarrant, lived on Pelhamdale Avenue and attended Pelham schools He held a
commission in the reserves with the Seventh Regiment was called to duty in February
1941. Early in 1944 the Army Captain participated in the invasion of the Marshall Islands,
and later was taking part in the invasion of Saipan when killed in action on June 27th
1944.
Richard H. Mullineaux, competed in track and cross country as a member of the PMHS
Class of 1939. He became a fighter pilot with the US Army Air Force and served with the
75th Fighter Squadron, which was better known as the famous "Flying Tigers", a squadron
formed to fly from airfields in China.
On July 23, 1944, Lt. Mullineaux was flying on a mission in a P40 across China. he was
observed by a fellow squadron member to make a "Low level attack and then crash into
the ground".
Henry Harrison Ives, graduated from Siwanoy School and PMHS. He was a volunteer in
the Pelham Manor Fire Department, and an avid marathon runner.
Ives enlisted in the Marine Corps and was assigned to the Twenty-Second Marines. His
unit fought in the invasion of Saipan in June of 1944 and then landed on July 21st to
retake the island of Quam. On July 25, 1944, Corporal Ives was killed in Action, one of
1,747 Americans who died and 6,053 wounded at Guam. Members of the Pelham Fire
Department, praised Ives, “He was the kind of Marine who went right in and did the job
regardless of his personal safety”.
Clarence George Campbell, grew up at 440 Pelhamdale Avenue and graduated from
PMHS and Wesleyan University. He enlisted in the Navy in May of 1941 and became a
torpedo bomber pilot.
On August 4th 1944, Lt. Campbell and his two man crew flew a mission from the USS
Hornet. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism that day The citation from
Secretary of the Navy, James Forestal read:
“Flying under extremely adverse weather conditions and in the face of intense anti-aircraft
fire, Lt. Campbell pressed home a determined, aggressive attack on a large enemy
destroyer and when his torpedo failed to release, unhesitatingly turned his damaged plane
back and made a second powerful daring run, accurately scoring a direct hit amid-ships
and leaving the hostile vessel in a sinking condition.”
“Forced to effect an emergency landing as a result of the severe damage inflicted on his
craft during the engagement, he skillfully set the plane down in the heavy seas without
injury to his crewmen, and provided for their escape before he himself succumbed. Lt.
Campbell’s superb airmanship, indomitable fighting spirit and great personal valor
throughout this perilous mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval
Service. ”
KGK: Thank you Madison
To tell us about Pelham’s role in the great battle of Leyte Gulf, we have Will Sawyer
In late October of 1944 one of the greatest Naval Battle in history was fought for control of
the Philippine Islands, the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Over 600 ships and half a million men were
involved.
John Mathew Ring, lived on Francis Street in Pelham Manor. At PMHS he participated
in football, track, and hockey while also serving as President of the debating team.
Ring enlisted in the US Naval Reserve V-5 training class in 1942 and was commissioned
an Ensign in Oct. of 1943. He was designated a Naval Aviator and was assigned to duty in
January of 1944 on board the Escort Carrier USS Chenango.
On October 25, 1944 the main American fleet had been diverted away from the landings
being made at Leyte Gulf and a fleet of Japanese battleships was able to gain position for
an attack that threatened the beachfront established by General Douglas McArthur.
"Two Pelham pilots were among those in the Navy who stood in the way".
A squadron of escort carriers and destroyers known to the world as “Taffy Three” had
been left to guard the landing beaches and the support ships off Leyte Gulf. Flying from
the carrier USS Langley, was Ensign John Ring. He served as a wingman in a bombing
attack against a Japanese cruiser. Ring's plane was hit by anti aircraft fire and fell out of
control from the formation. Several squadron officers saw the plane hit the water behind
the Japanese ship.
Ralph A. Rhodes, grew up on NYAC Avenue in Pelham, and went to Colgate University.
He became a dive bomber pilot who flew at Guadalcanal. In the fall of 1944 Rhodes was a
squadron commander on board the large carrier USS Hancock which was speeding back
to the Leyte beachfront area after having pursued another enemy fleet. On the same day
as Ensign Ring made his fateful mission, flying at extreme range from his carrier,
Lieutenant Rhodes pressed home an attack despite intense anti-aircraft fire and scored a
direct hit on an enemy battleship.
Lt. Rhodes was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism. John Michael Ring Is
Memorialized on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at the Manila
American Cemetery in the Philippines.
The next day the surviving ships of the enemy fleet sailed away from Leyte Gulf, defeated
in the end by many brave Americans including two pilots from Pelham.
KGK: Thank you Will.
We are proud to have presented the stories of these Pelham heroes. The research
presented is from local newspapers of the era, several historical websites, WWII aircraft
accident reports, and records of the National Archives. Additional information is available
on the Post 50 website Legion Post 50 NY.com.
May I ask for a round of applause for our five Pelham Memorial High School seniors:
Garrett Johnson
Nicole Rood
Jesse Clain:
Madison Darbyshire
Will Sawyer
Thank You
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The complete biographies on these Pelham Heroes is available in the "Heroes
Memorial" section of the website:
Memorial" section of the website:
The link to the complete biography of Ralph A Rhodes is available at: