WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Darwin E. Hemenway

 

Private First Class

Darwin Eugene Hemenway

The family of Ralph and Golda (Mann) Hemenway lived in Farmer Township near Williams Center most of their lives. Their six sons and one daughter attended Farmer High School; Darwin graduated in 1935.

Darwin married Fern Gearhart on September 21, 1940, and they moved to Butler Street in Bryan where he worked at both the Aro Corp. and Ohio Art.

His wife, Fern, told his story in an interview with the Bryan Times on July 21, 2002, when she was 85:

"Darwin was drafted into the Marine Corps in March 1943, just a month before our daughter, Dee Ann, was born. (He) shipped out with the 4th Marine Division from San Diego, California, and in early January 1944, his letters stopped coming."

Fern was a teacher, but she had to resign when she married because those were the rules in those days. In February 1943, she and her daughter traveled to California for two weeks to be with Darwin, staying in San Francisco.  Then she went to live with her parents and younger siblings after Darwin shipped out.

Fern continued, "In March 1944, I received the telegram that said he was missing in Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands on January 31, 1944. He was last seen in a sinking landing craft. That's all they ever told me. In a year's time, he was declared dead."

In 1969,  Mrs. Hemenway said she had a phone call from a sergeant who had been with her husband when he was lost. "He had been looking for me in Eaton, Ohio, and after searching for 25 years, he accidentally met someone from Edon who knew me. When he came to visit my daughter and I, he explained what had happened, even drawing maps to explain the situation. At last, we had the closure for all those years of not knowing."

PFC Darwin Hemenway operated an  amphibious tractor that was meant to land soldiers and equipment at the Kwajalein Atoll. It was a combined Army and Marine mission to take this ring shaped coral formation of the Marshall Islands where the Japanese had established themselves defensively.

From http missingmarines.com - The 14th Marines operation report

 

"During 'Operation Flintlock,'  (Hemenway's) company was tasked with the landing of the howitzers of the 14th Marine which would provide them fire support for assault landings on  other islands. Hemenway's tractor was loaded with a howitzer from Battery G, along with its crew, ammunition and accessories to Ennuebing (code name: Jacob).

Heavy surf around 'Jacob' claimed at least one LVT2 during the infantry assault, and conditions were no better when the artillery was ordered to land. To make matters worse, the LVTs were debarked from 6,000 to 12,000 yards offshore. This was unsatisfactory as the landing was delayed unduly.

High seas and treacherous coral capsized or swamped a number of the tractors, including two loaded with G Battery howitzers. All equipment was lost and the survivors desperately tried to keep their heads above water."

One landing craft, "herself grounded on a coral reef sighted four amphibious tanks about 500 yards astern which had capsized in strong current and heavy surf. She passed two lines to the swimming men and within an hour had 48 survivors."

"PFC Hemenway and PFC Ralph A. Carberry were 'last seen off Jacob Island...in a LVT in sinking condition. Both Marines were reported as missing during the landings, and ultimately declared dead on February 1, 1945."

PFC Hemenway died on the first day of this offensive, the Battle of Kwajalein, on January 31, 1944. He was part of Company A, 11th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 4th Marine Division.  His body was not recovered.

It was February 1945 before his parents were notified that Darwin, who had been listed as missing, was now officially presumed dead.  

Darwin was listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the National Cemetery in Honolulu, and a memorial stone was placed in Edon Cemetery.

His wife, Fern, went back to teaching and had a long career. She never remarried.

Darwin had four brothers who also enlisted in the armed services. 

Dan Hasch, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Sgt. Eugene D. Kern

 

Sergeant Eugene David Kern

Born to John Adam and Elnora Ann (Rauth) Kern on January 2, 1914, Eugene Kern grew up in Defiance. He completed high school and worked with his friends in a factory until he was drafted on October 16, 1940,

He went to Toledo to enlist on February 10, 1941, and was assigned to Company D, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and later he was trained at Ford Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.

Camp Shelby, probably 1941, 148th Infantry
Front row, 3rd from left - Sgt. Eugene Kern

Eugene served in Fiji, Guadalcanal and New Georgia, attaining the rank of Sergeant. An article in the Defiance Crescent-News described his heroism and sacrifice before his death on July 28, 1945, on New Georgia Island (Munda).

"Posthumous award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Eugene D. Kern of Defiance for 'extraordinary heroism' which saved the lives of all the rest of his men but cost his own life, while he was in command of a mortar section near Munda in the Solomon Islands, July 28, 1943, was announced by the War Department today.

Sergeant Kern was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Kern, 208 East Second Street.  He was 29 years old and had served with the 37th Division after entering service on Feb. 10, 1941.

Complete text of the War Department's announcement:

'U.S. Army Headquarters in the South Pacific - By direction of the President, the Distinguished Service Cross (posthumous) Dec. 20, 1943, by Lt. General Millard F. Harmon, Commanding United States Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, to:

EUGENE D. KERN, Sergeant, Infantry, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while in command of a mortar section near Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands on 28 July 1943.

When his position suddenly was overwhelmed by the converging fire of three Japanese machine guns, snipers, hidden in nearby trees, and grenade throwers. Sergeant Kern, in complete command of a situation that threatened annihilation, calmly ordered his men to their foxholes.

Then disregarding his own safety, he went from one foxhole to another, giving his men needed reassurance and confidently outlining a plan of escape. When the last of his section had successfully reached cover in a new position, Sergeant Kern ran to join them but was killed by an enemy sniper.

Only his courageous leadership under fire and his complete self-sacrifice in the interests of his men saved his comrades from being hopelessly trapped. 

Next of kin: Mrs. Elnore Kern, mother, 208 East Second Street, Defiance, Ohio'"

The parents were informed in September 1943 that Sgt. Kern had also received the Purple Heart posthumously.

     

It was the end of May 1948, before Sgt. Kern's body started traveling home, first to San Francisco, and then to a regional distribution center, and finally home to Defiance.

It was February 1949 before a funeral could be held. By that time, Eugene's father had died in 1948. His mother, Elnora, died the year after the funeral in 1950. the stress and grief must have heavy.

His survivors were his mother, five brothers Rev. Father Cletus Kern, John A. Kern, Toledo, Herman W. Kern, Los Angeles, Paul J Kern and Charles M. Kern, Defiance, and one sister, Helene Kern (Mrs. Travis Steele).

Sgt. Eugene Kern was buried with honors in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, Ohio.

Dianne Kline, Researcher