Vessel with 3,028 war dead docks in San Francisco today (10-10-47)

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The Evening Star (October 10, 1947)

Vessel with 3,028 war dead docks in San Francisco today

Most of bodies are those of victims of Pearl Harbor

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A gray transport slips through the mists of the Golden Gate today with the bodies of men who died in World War II – the first to fall and the first to come home.

A nation’s grateful tribute awaited the first funeral ship returning the war dead – most of them victims of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor which sowed American cemeteries all over the world.

The transport Honda Knot, inbound from Honolulu, carried 3,028 bodies. In addition to the Pearl Harbor dead, the ship also bore some who died in later battles in China, India and Burma.

Flags at half-staff on federal buildings to honor war dead

Flags on all government buildings are at half-staff today in tribute to war dead arriving from the Pacific area, at San Francisco. They will remain at half-staff until sundown.

Officials announced the flags would be flown at half-staff again when each succeeding transport carrying war dead is due to arrive.

In all, nearly 300,000 Americans lost their lives in World War II. Actually the conflict cost more – the figure does not include the missing or those who died as prisoners. The Honda Knot and a transport from Europe, due in New York October 25, are the first of many – for officials say three-fourths of all Americans who died abroad probably will be returned for burial.

At noon, the Honda Knot drops anchor 300 yards off the curving Marina shore, just inside the Golden Gate. Forty-eight planes are escorting her into San Francisco Bay. As memorial services began, artillery will fire a measured, 21-gun salute.

From the shore, a little launch will carry a simple wreath to the ship – President Truman’s tribute from the nation. Leaves from trees in all parts of the country were used to form the wreath.

Then, a minute of silence, followed by the National Anthem, played by an Army-Navy band. Mayor Roger Lapham will inform the president’s military aide, Maj. Gen. Harry Vaughn, that the memorial wreath has been presented. Speakers for the half-hour memorial service include Gen. Mark Clark, 6th Army commandant; Gov. Earl Warren, and Secretary of the Navy Sullivan.

After taps, the Honda Knot moves down the bay to dock at the Oakland Army base.

Six caskets will lie in state in the rotunda of San Francisco’s City Hall tomorrow morning, representing the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Air Force and service-attached civilians.

Within three days and with the great reverence, all 3,028 caskets will be sent to their final resting places, in accord with the wishes of next of kin. With each will go a guard of honor.

Bodies of 29 from district aboard funeral vessel

A total of 29 World War II dead whose next of kin live in the District, were among those aboard the Army transport Honda Knot coming in to San Francisco today from Hawaii.

There were 52 from Virginia and 34 from Maryland, although not all these were from nearby.

Arrival of the transport in San Francisco was to be marked by a 21-gun salute at Fort Myer and the Army War College and the lowering of flags to half-staff at all local Army installations. Later this month the Army will hold solemn rites at Arlington Cemetery in honor of those war dead whose bodies are being returned to the United States.

The bodies, which will be sent to Distribution Center No. 3, Philadelphia quartermaster depot, with their next of kin and addresses here, follow:

  • Lt. (j.g.) Randal B. Adams, USNR; Dr. Henry D. Adams, 1726 I St. N.W.;

  • First Lt. Vachel W. Anderson, Mrs. William P. Anderson, 2500 Q St. N.W.;

  • Ens. Donald W. Augusterfer, USNR; Mrs. Leona M. Augusterfer, 4422 New Hampshire Ave. N.W.;

  • Maj. Andrew A. Barna; Mrs. Mildred J. Barna, 4006 62nd St. N.W.

  • Tech. Sgt. Shelby L. Cox, USMC; Mrs. Gertrude L. Emanuel, 6106 First Place N.E.;

  • Platoon Sgt. Wallace J. Clark Jr., USMC; Wallace J. Clark Sr., 1626 16th St. S.E.;

  • Storekeeper Third Class Baltassar J. Giacofci; Mrs. Lucy B. Giacofci, 112 17th St. S.E.;

  • Aviation Machinists Mate Third Class Donald Κ. Hathaway, USN, Paul LeVerne Hathaway, 3826 Τ Street N.W.;

  • Pfc. Martin F. Hunt, USMC; Mrs. Martha B. Hunt, 307 Allison St. N.W.;

  • Second Lt. James F. Kehoe Jr., USMCR, 3823 Fessenden St. N.W.;

  • First Lt. Robert W. Kirkpatrick, USMCR; Mrs. Marion T. Kirkpatrick, 1669 Columbia Rd. N.W.;

  • Gunner’s Mate Second Class John C. Pensyl, USN; Mrs. Ruth R. Pensyl, 1446 Fairmont St. N.W.;

  • Second Lt. George V. Pyles, USA; Dennis W. Pyles, 5060 Temple Rd. S.E.

  • Tech. Sgt. Carl L. Rice, USMC; Mrs. Carl L. Rice, 1837 Monroe St. N.E.;

  • Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Arthur W. Russett, USN; Mrs. Gertrude L. Russett, 2421 M Street N.W.;

  • Warrant Officer Alexander J. Schreiner, USN; Mrs. Bernice H. Schreiner, 2000 16th St. N.W.;

  • Technician Third Class Lorenz D. Smith, USA; Edgar D. Smith, Colonial Heights Station;

  • Capt. Hobert T. Walker Jr., USA; Hobert T. Walker Sr., 1321 21st St. N.W.

  • Pfc. Samuel A. Westray, USMC; Mrs. Mabel L. Westray, 1625 East Capital St.;

  • Steward’s Mate First Class Fred H. Williams, USNR; Mrs. Mildred F. Williams, 2422 17th St. N.W.;

  • Master Sgt. William E. Barry, USA; Mrs. Teresa Barry, 222 S Street N.E.;

  • Capt. James L. Denig, USMC; Brig. Gen. Robert L. Denig, 2122 California St. N.W.

  • Steward’s Mate First Class Roosevelt Johnson, USNR; Mrs. Mary R. Johnson, 418 8th St. S.W., will be sent to Distribution Center No. 4, Charlotte, N.C., Quartermaster Depot.

  • Seaman First Class Franklin E. Bender, USN; William H. Bender, 1230 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E., will be sent to Distribution Center No. 7, Columbus, Ohio, General Distribution Depot.

  • Chief Clerk Thomas E. Flynn, USMC; Mrs. Margaret Flynn, 1218 Perry St. N.E., and Pvt. Donald W. Philson, USMC; Mrs. Augusta Philson, 3410 17th St. N.W., will be sent to Distribution Center No. 9, Kansas City, Mo., Quartermaster Depot.

  • First Lt. Charles L. Bartlett, USA; Mrs. Ann Lynn Bartlett, 1627 19th St. N.W., will be sent to Distribution Center No. 15, Mira Loma Quartermaster Depot, Riverside, Calif.

From nearby Virginia

The bodies of those whose next of kin live in nearby Virginia, together with their next of kin, include the following which will be sent to Distribution Center No. 3, Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot:

  • Cpl. William T. Anderson, USA; Herbert C. Anderson, Triangle;

  • Pfc. George H. Ayres Jr.; Mrs. Mary W. Ayres, Manassas;

  • Maj. Gen. Charles D. Barrett; Mrs. Emily Barrett, Hunting Terrace, Alexandria;

  • Pfc. James W. Brent, USA; Burkley Brent, Mountville;

  • Lt. Col. David K. Claude, USMC; Emma B. Claude, Orange;

  • Maj. Henry T. Elrod, USMC; Mrs. Elizabeth J. Elrod, 1017 Oakcrest Rd., South Arlington;

  • Lt. Col. Powhatan M. Morton, USA; Mrs. Virginia C. Morton, 1918 Stadium Rd., Charlottesville;

  • Col. Richard H. Schubert; Mrs. Rena M. Schubert, 49 Woodmont Rd., Alexandria.

  • Pvt. Ernest M. Curtis, USA; Mrs. Corrie E. Curtis, Culpeper, will be sent to Distribution Center No. 4, Charlotte, N.C., Quartermaster Depot.

  • First Lt. Charles W. Schlenz, USMCR; Charles H. Schlenz, 1712 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, will be sent to Distribution Center No. 1, Brooklyn Army Base, New York Port of Embarkation.

From nearby Maryland

The bodies of those whose next of kin live in nearby Maryland, and their next of kin, include the following, which will be sent to Distribution Center No. 3, Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot:

  • Lt. Russell Cunningham, USN; Mrs. Alma V. Cunningham, Annapolis;

  • Electrician’s Mate Third Class Edward J. Dietz, USNR; Mrs. George H. Dietz, Winchester Avenue, Ellicott City;

  • First Lt. Thomas J. Hill, USA; Thomas D. Hill, 4320 Spring St., Suitland;

  • Seaman Second Class Benny H. Hunter, USN; Richard L. Hunter, River Road No. 3, Bethesda;

  • Lt. Edward William Hurst, USN; Mrs. Jeanette H. Hurst, 8 Maryland Ave., Annapolis;

  • Lt. John H. Lohm, USN; Albert L. Lohm, 5 East Baltimore St., Kensington;

  • Pfc. Owen A. Nichols, USA; Mrs. Bessie Ε. Nichols, 108 A West Patrick St., Frederick;

  • Capt. Horatio G. Sickel, USN; Mrs. Frances B. Sickel, 12 Shaw St., Annapolis.

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The New York Times (October 11, 1947)

First Ship Brings 3,028 War Dead From the Pacific to San Francisco

Special to The New York Times

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10 – The first of America’s war dead came home today.

While guns of shoreline military reservations boomed a salute of twenty-one guns, the steamer Honda Knot pushed through the Golden Gate, bearing the bodies of 3,028 men who died at Pearl Harbor and other Pacific battlegrounds.

An aerial escort of forty-eight planes and a surface escort of cutters, tugs and destroyers met the funeral ship and led her to anchorage off Marina Park. There, some 5,000 persons stood in the rain for ceremonies marking the arrival.

Secretary of the Navy John L. Sullivan made the chief address of the day, in which he said of those who gave their lives:

“For them, the war is over; for us, the demands of this war will not cease until the objectives for which they gave their lives have been attained.”

Gen. Mark W. Clark spoke of gratitude “to the memories of the soldiers and sailors and civilians who died to give us peace and security,” and added:

“The peace that they won must not be a mockery.”

A benediction, a rifle volley, and the sounding of taps ended the formal ceremonies.

The Honda Knot raised anchor and slowly proceeded to the Army base at Oakland, across the bay. A pier overlooking the docked vessel bore a message designed for the hundreds of thousands of Pacific fighting men who long since came home. It read: “Welcome home. Well done.”

While the formal observance went forward, flags on all local buildings flew at half staff and church bells tolled. At noon, cities throughout the bay area observed a moment of silence.

Something of the purpose behind this voyage of the Honda Knot was spoken by Secretary Sullivan, as follows:

“Even in their returning, these, our heroic dead, continue to serve our country. Unlike the unknown soldier of World War I, they and their deeds are known. They will be borne to the cities and towns where they lived, each a symbol of devotion and sacrifice. Each will become a constant reminder that superiority in scientific research, material resources and mass industrial production is valueless unless we acquire a personal and national determination to pursue our destiny as the protagonist and protector of peace.”

Warren Urges “A Better Result”

Governor Warren called upon the quiet throng to “achieve a better result” for those aboard the grey, rust-streaked transport.

“We can do this,” he said, “by extending a helping hand to unfortunate people everywhere, by making our own institutions adequate for the daily needs of our people.”

As the Honda Knot dropped anchor 400 yards offshore to signal the moment of silence and begin the ceremonies, a small Navy launch drew alongside. Seven men in dress uniform raised aloft a gigantic green wreath. It was hauled aboard and suspended over the ship’s side. Ashore, 800 men of the Second Infantry Division and detachments of marines and sailors snapped to attention and saluted.

The wreath was from President Truman – a tribute in behalf of the nation.

Tomorrow, further ceremony will do honor to the returned dead. In the rotunda of the City Hall, six flag-draped coffins will lie in state, signifying members of five branches of the armed forces and civilians who died in the war against Japan.

Ranking officers of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Air Corps will put wreaths on the coffins.

Time for Arrival Here Set

Pacific war dead from the New York area arriving at San Francisco yesterday on the Army transport Honda Knot are not expected at Distribution Center No. 1, Brooklyn Army Base, New York Port of Embarkation, before Oct. 25, the port announced.

“It will require at least this time to complete he debarkation operation at San Francisco and for transport overland by rail to New York,” the announcement stated. “The time required for the selection of escorts, individual transportation and other operational factors will in most cases take several additional days.”