Record of Funerals
Overseas -- Australia
Edgar R. Cochrun, Chaplain
Base Section
#2
U.S.A.F.I.A.
1942
After the United States entered World War I, my
grandfather, the Reverend Edgar Roy Cochrun, a Methodist preacher, believed
that he should join the Army as a chaplain. As the story goes, the Methodist
bishop at that time did not want "any of my boys in that sinful conflagration,"
so Uncle Roy (as we grandchildren were to call him many years later) changed
denominations and joined anyhow. I do not know if he ever saw Europe during
that first world war.
During World War II, my grandfather served both in
the Pacific and in Europe after the invasion. His service in the Pacific began
in 1942 when he sailed aboard the USAT Anscom to Adelaide, Australia. He
arrived in Australia May 14, 1942.
While in Australia he maintained two
records, a diary (which sadly was not always well maintained) and a list of men
whose lives were lost during the war. I recently ran across that latter
notebook and thought perhaps there were those who would like to see the names
of the men at whose funerals he officiated. According to a note at the
beginning of the record he sometimes also officiated at Jewish
funerals.
It is with reverence for the past and those lost in the
Pacific during that second world war that I present below in alphabetic order
the names of those heros, as well as any additional information about the
individual, from my grandfather's notebook.
Elmer F. Beckett,
Corp.
(See further below)
Sgt. Harris
H. Coffey
Third Bombardment Group
3 November 1942
American
Cemetery
P. Moresby
Wife Mrs. Bessie M.
307 E. Pk. A
Savannah,
GA
(letter of condolence sent)
Died in plane crash following mission over
enemy territory 2 November 1942. Landing gear of plane shot off by enemy
fire.
S/Sgt Richard M. Cullison
43 Bomb Gr.
3 December
1942
220 So St. Harrisburg, PA.
Mother Mrs. Violet B. Cullison
(letter
of condolence sent)
Willard J. Currie, Jr.
500 Bo. Sq. - 90th
Bomb Gr.
3 Jan. 1943
Mrs. Claude Currie
Box 511
Sterling City,
Texas
(There is no indication a letter was sent)
2nd Lt.
Robert Farnsworth
319 Bo. Sq. 90th Bo. Gp.
3 Jan 1943
Guy
Faqrnsworth
RFD #1
Ontario, Oregon
(There is no indication a letter
was sent)
Corp. Marvin D. Frandsen
3 Dec 1942
320 Bo.
Sq. 90th Bo. Gp.
Mrs. Lula S. Frandsen
Basalt, Idaho
(Letter of
condolence sent)
S/Sgt Richard C. Frankforther
Townsville, N
(illegible)
Died of injuries about Nov 8-10, 1942, of injuries (sic)
received in a plane wreck (see under Lt. Platt). I attended this soldier at
hospital before he was taken back. He showed very great courage. (Mother) Mrs.
Naomi Frankforther
(Letter of condolence sent)
516 Conant St.
Maumee,
Ohio
Letter of condolence sent (3rd Bomb. Gp.)
(It is unknown if the
two entries regarding letter of condolence means the 3rd. Bomb. Gp. also sent a
letter).
1st Lt. Robert K. Freeman,
3 Dec. 1942
43rd
Bomb Gr.
Mrs. Constance L. Freeman
8855 So. Aberdeen St.
Chicago,
Illinois
(Letter of condolence sent)
Blakely Fryman,
Sgt
(See further below)
Chas. G.
Glimpse S/Sgt
400th Bo. Sq. 90th Bo. Gp.
3 Jan, 1943
Mrs. Mable
Glimpse (M)
Walnut Street, Indiana
(Signal Ooletic?
Ind.
(The above entry is reproduced precisely as it appears. In addition,
there is no indication a letter was sent).
S/Sgt W.H.
Grogan
3 Dec 1942
43rd Bomb Gr.
Eva B. Gorgan
2353 Elizabeth
Ave.,
Winston-Salem, No. Carolina
(Letter of condolence
sent)
Walter L. Husher
400th Bo. Sq. 90th Bo. Gp.
3 Jan
1943.
Mrs. Betty Seidlitz (S)
4823 No. Winthrop
Chicago,
Ill.
("S" probably indicates "sister." In addition, there is no
indication a letter was sent).
Staff Sergeant J.M.
Iverson
3 Dec. 1942
43rd Bomb. Gr.
Mary Iverson
Depot
Road
Falmouth, Me
(Letter of condolence sent)
Robert F.
Knerr. Pfc.
400th Bo. Sq. 90th Bo. Gp.
3 Jan 1943
(F) Frank G.
Knerr
218 So. Melcalf St.
Lima, Ohio
("F" probably is "father."
There is no indication a letter was sent)
Corp. Guy A.
Kynerd
14 Dec 1942
Mrs. F.B. Kynerd (Mother)
725 Pecan
St.
Waco, Texas
(Letter of condolence sent)
Pfc. Bernard E.
Leake
Co "H," 128 Inf.
6 November 1942
American Cemeter - Port
Moresby
Died of wounds received in enemy air raid.
Ltr. to J.E.
Leake
R#1
Reedsburg, Wis.
(Letter of condolence apparently
sent)
2nd Lt. Philip D. Lissner
8th Photo Squadron
Nov
30, 1942
American Cemetery, Port Moresby.
Died in plane crash while on
mission
Ltr. 12/2/43 to
Mrs. C.W. Gibson (Mother)
Laredo,
Texas
(Letter of condolence sent)
Sgt. Gilliam R.
Mefford
Third Bombardment Group
3 November 1942
American
Cemetery
P. Moresby
Mrs. Rosa Ellen Mefford (Mother)
Route
8
Springfield, Tenn.
Died in plane crash following mission over enemy
territory 2 November 1942. Landing gear of plane shot off by enemy
fire.
(Letter of condolence sent)
2nd Lieut Harry L.
Moy
O-431683
43rd Bomb Gr.
20 Dec 1942
Mrs. Joay (sic)
Moy
Wilburton, Okla
(Letter of condolence sent)
Sam Nash,
Corp.
(See further below)
2nd Lt. A.C.
Oxley, Gilbert L.
35th Fighter Sq. 8th Fighter Gr.
Died in plane
crash
Woodstock, Qd (probably Queensland)
July 27, 1942.
Home
Address:
747 Vermilya Ave
Flint, Mich.
Next of kin:
Cecil L.
Oxley, Father.
Funeral:
Townsville, Qd
3 PM July 28.
Burial New
Townsville Cemetery
Sect C-3, Row No 1, Plot No 17.
Text. Jer
48:17.
(Letter written to father)
(As the earliest date in his
notebook, my grandfather probably originally intended to keep detailed
information, but later found he was unable to do so.)
2nd Lieut.
Theron G. Platt
Third Bombardment Group
3 November
1942
American Cemetery
Port Moresby
(Mother) Mrs. A.R. Platt
The
Oaks
L.I.
N.Y.
Died in plane crash following mission over enemy
territory 2 November 1942. Landing gear of plane shot off by enemy
fire.
(Letter of condolence sent)
Pvt. Harold E.
Rainwater
(American Indian)
72nd Ord. Bn.
11 Dec. 1942
Killed
in motor accident. Was very much liked by his comrades. Musical and lively
spirited.
Mrs. Susie Rainwater
R.F.D. #1
Box 7,
DeQuincey,
La.
(Letter of condolence sent)
1st. Sgt. Lester L.
Risch
153rd Sta Hosp.
Port Moresby
(17 mi.) (sic)
Dec
21, 1942
Henry Risch
1501 4th St.
Davenport, Ia.
Died of illness
following operation. Funeral largely attended by EM - Doctors and
Nurses.
Lieut. Jerome L. Simpson
6th Troop Carrier
Sq
Jerome L. Simpson Sr.
Iva, So. Carolina
(Letter of condolence
sent)
Snyder, Earl W. Sgt
63rd Bomb
Group. 43 Bomb Sq (H) attached 19 Bomb Gr.
KIA on bombing mission
New
Guinea
Funeral held Townsville, Qd (Queensland)
Aug. 29,
1942
Internment, New Townsville Cemetery.
Aug. 29, 1942
(sic)
Next of kin -
(No indication of next of kin or if letter
of condolence was sent).
Estie E. Stewart, Pvt
Pvt
(sic) 37 Sig. Pl. 27 Serv. Sg.
39075014
28 Jan 1943
E D
Jenkins
Drummond, Okla.
(Letter of condolence sent)
(Also see further below)
Sgt/T William J.
Theodore
39002450
391st Engrs. Lost at sea enroute Townsville - Port
Moresby aboard USAT Geo. Matthews -
Accident due collision 1:30 A.M. Oct 17,
1942, with USAT Edgar Benson. Soldier sleeping in truck on gun deck. Cot with
soldier thrown overboard. Searchlights were used. Ship stopped & small boat
searched for 1/2 hour. No trace. Memorial service held aboard ship 10 A.M.
Sunday, Oct 18, 1942.
N-K - Mr & Mrs. Theodore
Star Route - Box
18
Pleasanton, Calif.
(Letter of condolence sent)
(It should be
noted that owner of the Ship Index Page formerly at
http://patriot.net/~eastlnd2/ships.htm">http://patriot.net/~eastlnd2/ships.htm
clarified the name of the Edgar Benson as the Egbert Benson. Both the Matthews
and Benson were Liberty Ships and not USAT ships. (The Ship Index Page is gone). There is
additional information about the collision
itself from my grandfather's diary. Theodore was the only person killed in
the collision).
===
At the front of the notebook was
noted: "At Port Moresby, N.G. Oct 1942 -- Capt. Sidney G. Rubenfelt, M.C.,
in absence of Jewish chaplain, officiated on my invitation at several funerals
of Jewish soldiers. See - Picture - ABX." (The photo may be the one below,
although it is of services held in 1943).
The photo above is of a
funeral for four men, one of whom was Estie E. Stewart
from the list above. As the others were not Protestant, there were no notes
about them in his notebook. Those three men were:
Elmer F.
Beckett, Corp. Co "M" 128th Inf. Catholic
Blakely Fryman, Sgt
708 C.A. Catholic
Sam Nash, Corp. Co "K," 163rd Inf.
Jewish.
The officiating chaplains in the photo are identified
as:
E.R. Atterbury - 41st Div. Prot 1.
E.R. Cochrun - HQ Adv.
Base Prot. 3.
J.I. Kane - 10th Evac. Hosp. Catholic 5.
S.M. Kerr - 171st
Sta Hosp. Protestant 2.
S.G. Rubenfelt (Capt. M.C.) Jewish
4.
Additional notes written on the back of the photo
were:
Maple.
Jan 28, 1943
9:30 A.M.
American
cemetery
Anyone who would like to comment on this information
or discuss it is welcome to contact me by e-mail at
roy@royfc.com