USS Neosho: Survivors and Casualties

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The U.S.S. Neosho at Coral Sea

List of Survivors and Casualties

This is a partial list of the survivors and casualties of the attacks on the tanker U.S.S. Neosho and destroyer U.S.S. Sims by Japanese dive-bombers on May 7, 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Of the 545 men on board these ships that morning, 421 men died and 124 survived.

Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive sources available on the Internet or in books that include the names of the crewmen who served aboard the Neosho and Sims, so I've had to piece this together from various sources. In early 2005, a website reader sent me two mostly-complete lists of casualties from the Navy Bureau of Personnel, one for the U.S.S. Neosho and one for the U.S.S. Sims, which I've incorporated.

I'm still compiling this list and will be adding to it over time. If you know the names of any survivors or casualties of the U.S.S. Neosho or the U.S.S. Sims, please contact me and I'll post the information on this page. If you'd care to share any stories about anyone who was on the Neosho or Sims, I'll be happy to post them on my Veterans Forum page.

* Name From Navy Bureau of Personnel List

** Name Submitted by website reader.

U.S.S. Neosho

Survivors from U.S.S. Neosho (Partial List)

SURVIVING OFFICERS
Name	Rank	Comments
Henry K. Bradford	Lieutenant	.
Thomas M. Brown	Lieutenant Commander	Gunnery Officer
Charles C. Cook	Lieutenant (j.g.)	.
William G. Driscoll	Lieutenant (j.g.)	.
Francis J. Firth	Lieutenant Commander	Executive Officer; WIA.
Leonard F. Gearin	Ensign	.
Robert N. Hargis	Ensign, D-M
Paul N. Howell	Ensign	.
Estul F. Nessmith	Lieutenant (j.g.)	.
John S. Phillips	Captain	Captain
Kenneth S. Terrill	Ensign	.
Louis Verbrugge	Lieutenant	Engineering Officer

SURVIVING ENLISTED MEN
Name	Rank	Comments
Charles Baker	Unknown	.
Harold C. Bagwell	Metalsmith Second Class	.
Wilbert A. Becker	Mach. Mate Second Class	Wounded in action.*
Herbert L. Bennett	Fireman First Class	From Texas. Later served on USS Neosho (AO-48).
Robert T. Boehm	Shipfitter Second Class	.
Lawrence Boyer	Metalsmith First Class	Wounded in action.*
William D. Boynton	Seaman Second Class	.
Harold Bratt	Machinist's Mate First Class	.
Tony Bustos	Unknown
Francis E. Chapin	Fireman Third Class	Wounded in action.*
Grover Chessmore	Unknown	.
George E. Cruttenden	Seaman First Class	Wounded in action.
Harvey L. Dyer	Water Tender First Class	Wounded in action.*
Meredith E. Ebbert	Seaman First Class	.
Frederick W. Fabian	Machinist's Mate First Class	Wounded in action.*
Edward A. Flaherty	Electrician's Mate 3rd Class	Transferred from USS Portland to USS Neosho on May 6, 1942.
Oswald J. Frenette	Unknown
Charles A. Hagewood	Seaman First Class	.
Jerry Hall	Seaman Second Class	Wounded in action.*
Iris F. Hoffman	Seaman Second Class	Wounded in action.*
Robert W. Hoag	Chief Pharmacists Mate	.
Patrick J. Jackson	Boatswain's Mate 1st Class	.
William C. King	Construction Elect. Mate	Wounded in action.*
Uriel H. Leach	Chief W.O., Machinist	Wounded in action.
William A. Leu	Fireman Third Class	From Washington. Later served on USS Neosho (AO-48).
Robert Ledford	Seaman First Class	.
Russell Lollar	Unknown	.
John E. Lowe	Storekeeper Third Class	Wounded in action.*
Nicholas G. Marchese	Ship's Cook Second Class	.
Vernon R. Manners	Boatswain	.
Lorenza McNair	OC First Class	Wounded in action.*
Arthur R. McPherson	Seaman Second Class	.
Doug J. Nelson	Signalman Third Class	Transferred from USS Portland to USS Neosho on May 6, 1942.
Elvin G. Newman	Seaman Second Class	Wounded in action.*
James T. Nix	Machinist's Mate 1st Class	Wounded in action.
Gilbert M. O'Grady	O-1	.
Samuel Ogur	Chief Boatswain's Mate	Wounded in action.*
Leopoldo Paloma	Officer's Steward 1st Class	.
Thomas J. Parker	Boatswain's Mate	.
William S. Parker	Chief Radioman	.
Ralph Patterson	Unknown	.
Albert V. Paulek	SF Third Class	Wounded in action.*
LeRoy Pearce	Unknown	.
Gilbert Percifield	Unknown	.
Walter J. Perowitz	Chief Machinist's Mate	.
John J. Peterson	Seaman Second Class	Rank is probable but unverified.
Alex Pupkin	Yeoman First Class	.
Wallace P. Quillan	Seaman First Class	Also a survivor of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.
Junior E. Reigle	Unknown
Anthony Rella
Harold A. Reynolds	Fireman First Class	Wounded in action.
William Romanofsky	Storekeeper Second Class	.
Jack Roslyn	Electrician's Mate Second Class	.
Cecil Sawyer	Unknown
Grant Seward	Unknown	.
Francis J. Shea	Chief Gunner's Mate	.
Leroy S. Shogren	Apprentice Seaman	Wounded in action.
Wayne Simmons	Machinists Mate Second Class	.
Addison F. Smith	Quartermaster Third Class	.
William A. Smith	Seaman Second Class	Rescued by U.S.S. Helm, May 16, 1942. Survivor of 68-man raft. From Idaho.
Wilbern L. Stovall	Chief Boatswain's Mate	.
Lorenzo Tyner	Officer's Cook Second Class	.
William J. Ward	Pharmacists Mate First Class	.
James L. Watchler	Coxwain	.
James M. Weber	Quartermaster Second Class	.
Samuel Wells	Unknown	.
Ernest W. Wobrell	Chief Electrician's Mate	.
John H. Wortham	Mess Attendant Second Class	.

Plus 34 other men

Casualties from U.S.S. Neosho (I believe this is a complete list)

Name	Rank	Comments
Robert T. Allsopp	Lieutenant J.G.	Killed in action.
Mitchell E. Andrews	Seaman First Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Missouri.
Beverly Annis	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From California.
Bruce Annis	Unknown	Reported missing in action on May 7, 1942.
Benjamin F. Baggarly	Chief Construction Mech.	Died on U.S.S. Neosho on May 9, 1942.
Floyd D. Bailey	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Illinois.
Carl F. Baird	Seaman First Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Nebraska.
Frank J. Baker	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.
Frank Balzer	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Missouri.
William J. Bannen	BKR First Class	Killed in action.*
Stuart C. Battenfield	Fireman Third Class	Reported missing in action on May 7, 1942.
Ernest J. Beech	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From California.
Louis R. Blackburn	Seaman First Class	Killed in action.*
Richard M. Blood	Yeoman Third Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From California.
Edward C. Blue	Fireman Third Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From California.
Harry F Bradshaw	Seaman First Class	Killed in action.*
Kenneth T. Bright	Seaman Second Class	Survivor of the 68-man raft. Rescued by Helm, May 16, 1942. Died May 17, 1942. From Missouri.
Leon M. Brooks	Construction Mech. 2nd Class	Died on U.S.S. Neosho on May 8, 1942.
Voris V. Brownfield	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Arthur Bunch, Jr.	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Missouri.
George Bundy	Gunner's Mate Second Class	Killed in action.*
Dennis D. Burger	Construction Mech. Third Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Iowa.
Albert J. Busky	Gunner's Mate Third Class	Killed in action.*
Thomas H. Cameron	Gunner's Mate Third Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From New Jersey.
Louis R. Cardy	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Herman E. Carter	Machinist's Mate Second Class	Killed in action.*
Mark A. Casella	Quartermaster Second Class	Killed in action.*
Henry T. Chapman	Fireman First Class	Died on U.S.S. Neosho on May 9, 1942
Davis M. Charlton	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
David A. Christian	Fireman Third Class	Died on U.S.S. Neosho on May 9, 1942
Richard C. Clark	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Willie Coates	Mate Second Class	Died on U.S.S. Neosho on May 10, 1942
Allie Collette	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Leland R. Collier	Electrician's Mate Third Class	Killed in action.*
Virgil W. Colson	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Claud C. Cooper	Gunner's Mate Third Class	Killed in action.*
Earl I. Couse	Storekeeper Third Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From California.
Ross C. Covina	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Noel E. Craven	Seaman Second Class	Died on U.S.S. Neosho on May 10, 1942
Rex B. Crawley	Radioman Third Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Idaho.
Lynn J. Creech	Fireman Third Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Idaho.
Louis B. Crosby	Signalman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Loren B. Crouch	Storekeeper Second Class	Reported KIA on May 7, 1942. From Texas.
Pearlin G. Cox	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Rex B. Crowley	Radioman Third Class	Killed in action.*
Russell L. Croxen	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Harold V. Cummins	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Manuel S. Davilla	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From California.
August M. D'Hondt	Seaman First Class	Died on the 68-man raft.
Kenneth L. Dowdy	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Roland Q. Dudley	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Audress C. Dunn	Fireman Second Class	Died on the Neosho. From Mounds, Illinois.
Edmund L. Dunn	Radioman Third Class	Killed in action.*
James H. Ellis	Fireman Third Class	Killed in action.*
Fermin Felosofo	OC Second Class	Killed in action.*
Attilio J. Ferrari	Seaman First Class	Killed in action.*
Dale F. Flory	Watertender Second Class	Killed in action.*
William K. Forbes	Radioman Third Class	Killed in action.*
Howard J. Foster	Fireman Third Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Washington.
Robert L. Fredrickson	Storekeeper Third Class	Killed in action.*
Herman A. Frohnhafer	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft.
Delvan C. Gaylord	Electrician's Mate Second Class	Killed in action.*
Joseph A. Gelinas	Watertender First Class	Killed in action.*
George W. Goff	Fireman Third Class	Killed in action.*
Hugh T. Gonia	Seaman First Class	Died on U.S.S. Neosho on May 10, 1942.
Robert K. Gracey	Fireman First Class	Killed in action.*
John D. Greathouse	:Lieutenant (j.g.)	Killed in action.*
Brevis M. Gregston	Seaman First Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Texas.
Luis Gutierrez	Seaman Second Class.	Died on the 68-man raft. From California.
Dale W. Guthrie	Fireman Third Class	Killed in action.*
Julio M. Guzman	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Guam.
William C. Hackworth	Fireman First Class	Killed in action.*
William Hames	Seaman First Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Missouri.
Charles A. Hamrick	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Texas.
George L. Hanis	Seaman First Class	Killed in action.*
James W. Hardwick	Seaman Second Class	Manned forward gun battery. Missing in action. From Texas.
Otis A. Hartman	Fireman First Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Missouri.
Albin M. Haugen	Machinist's Mate First Class	Killed in action.*
Elliott D. Haynes	Gunner's Mate Second Class	Killed in action.*
Grover H. Hough	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft.
James K. Howard	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
John C. Hudson	Fireman Third Class	Killed in action.*
David G. Huntsman	Seaman Second Class	Died on the 68-man raft. From Idaho.
Marchell R. Hurst	Machinist's Mate First Class	Died on the 68-man raft.
Donald E. Hyde	Seaman Second Class	Killed in action.*
Henry A. Irons	Seaman First Class	Killed in action.*
Alfred J. Jablonski	Seaman First Class	Killed in action.*