WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Petty Officer 2nd Class Gerald G. Doenges

 

Petty Officer Second Class

Gerald Gordon Doenges

Gerald's school photo

Born in Putnam County, Ohio, on March 13, 1921, Gerald's family later settled in Defiance at 830 Riverside Avenue. Gerald graduated from Defiance High School and went on to work at the American Packaging factory and later with his father, John Ross Doenges, at his gas station. His mother was Harriet (Snodgrass) Doenges.

In May 1940, he enlisted in the Navy and headed to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago.  On a furlough back home, he married his love, Phyllis Giffin, on June 23, 1944.

His occupation in the Navy was Yeoman 2nd Class, taking care of administrative and clerical duties. Personnel records, correspondence and reports were his jobs, as well as anything else assigned.

Petty Officer Doenges served in Midway, Wake, and several other islands. But in October, 1944, he was in the Philippine Sea, trying to get the Philippine Islands back from the Japanese who were determined to not let that happen.

Although it has not been determined exactly what ship he was on, he was a part of the Battle of Leyte on the Philippine Sea.  The group of ships he was with were called Taffy 3 and his group was in one of the three battle areas of the Battle of Leyte - The Battle of Samur.

One historian called it "one of the greatest last stands in history," on October 25, 1944.

Doenges' part of Taffy 3 consisted of several small escort carriers, 2-3 destroyers and escorts for the destroyers., all intended to be in a support situation. They were not properly armed to engage with the large Japanese armored ships. As the Japanese attempted to enter Leyte Gulf (the red curved line on the map), they opened fire on the U.S. ships just after dawn on October 1,  1944. They went after the escort carriers first. Then, for the first time, these U.S. sailors experienced a kamikaze attack as Japanese planes took off from their aircraft carriers, manned by Japanese men who were prepared to die for their country.

The Americans lost two escort carriers, two destroyers, and a destroyer escort and numerous aircraft. Petty Officer Doenges' escort ship was sunk, and his body was not recovered. He is listed as buried at sea. In January 1945, a memorial service was held for him at St. Paul Methodist Church in Defiance. He was memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines.

Crescent-News, November 13, 1944

Despite this horrific battle, the Americans actually won a great victory, crippling many of the Japanese battleships and reducing the enemy soldier count.

MacArthur had the Philippines back.

Petty Officer Doenges died on October 1, 1944, and, since he was buried at sea, a memorial stone was placed in North Mount Zion Cemetery, Continental, Putnam County.

Memorial stone in Continental, Ohio

Robert Carpenter, Researcher