Jack Victor Scranton was born 21 May 1919. His parents are William C. & Dorothy L. (Johnson) Scranton former resident’s of Marion. Jack graduated from Harding High School in 1938. Before entering service he was employed at Mautz Brother’s Hardware, as a salesman. He was dating a young lady from Lima, Ohio at the time of his enlistment.
Jack V. Scranton entered service on 16 June 1940, with the United Sates Navy. He attended Basic Training at Providence, Rhode Island. He then went on to training at Pensacola, Florida. He is found on the muster rolls of the USS Luce, on 30 April 1944. He served aboard the Luce until his death. While with the Luce he saw service in Alaska for a year and then in the South Pacific. Scranton attained the rank of Yeoman 2nd Class (Y2C). The USS Luce (DD-522) was a destroyer, nickname the “Lucky Luce.” From late 1944 into 1945, the Luce served in the Philippine Islands, New Guinea and Okinawa.
Y2C Jack V. Scranton was aboard the USS Luce when she was attacked on 4 May 1945, off Okinawa. While on screening duty in support of Operation Iceberg, the Lucky Luce was targeted by two Japanese attack aircraft. The Luce was able to down the first, but only when the aircraft had already closed in, thus the blast of the explosion still caused general power failures aboard the ship. A second enemy aircraft struck the aft section on the port side. This impact and explosion knocked out the port engine, jamming the rudder, and caused flooding. After the ship began to list, the commanding officer gave the order to abandon ship. The USS Luce exploded as she sank. 126 of the 312 on board were killed in the attack and the sinking.
USS Luce (DD-522) “Lucky Luce”
In less than a minute after the first plane splashed off the starboard bow, at least two other planes had simultaneously hit the aft section, and possibly a third crashed close to midship on the port side. . . . One of the planes that hit, in all probability, carried a bomb which blew up in the aft magazine, the combined explosion of the ammunition and the bomb blowing out a section of the bottom of the ship, thereby giving it the coup de grace, as the ship had probably already started to sink because of the damage caused by the first plane which splashed close to the ship and exploded.
From: DD 522: Diary of a Destroyer by Ron Surels
Y2C Jack Victor Scranton was killed in action on 4 May 1945. His remains were never recovered. Y2C Scranton is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii. Jack V. Scranton is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.
Forest Delbert Flockencier, Jr. was born on 4 February 1921, in Bucyrus, Ohio. His parents are Mr. & Mrs. Forest Flockencier, of Marion, Ohio. Forest, Jr. went by “Del.” When Del was one year old his family moved to Detroit, Michigan. Del would attend and graduate from schools in Detroit. After graduation, he was employed with the Universal Cooler Corporation, in the engineering department. He came to Marion, Ohio, when they moved the plant here.
Flockencier “Del” in October 1944 (Right Rear)
Forest D. Flockencier enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He left Marion on 4 January 1942, for service and attend basic training at Norfolk, Virginia. He would see stations that included Maryland, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Mississippi. While stationed at Duluth, Minnesota, he would marry Lillian (Lentz) of Detroit, Michigan. Together they had a son, Stuart. Forest D. Flockencier attained the rank of Motor Machinists Mate First Class (MoMM1C). MoMM1C Flockencier was sent overseas for duty in the Pacific in December of 1944. He served aboard the LST-884. He was a veteran of the invasion of Iwo Jima. He and his crew also survived a close call, when a Japanese shell went completely through their craft.
LST-884
During Operation Iceberg (the invasion of Okinawa), the LST-884 sustained serious damage from a Japanese Kamikaze attack on 1 April 1945. This was the first day of the invasion. MoMM1C Flockencier was reported as shot by a Japanese sniper, who was shooting from the beach area. He died of his wounds and was reported killed in action on 1 April 1945.
It is not know by the author at what point in the day that MoMM1C Flockencier was killed. Below is an account of the damage done that same day to the LST-884.
Damaged LST-884
“On the morning of 1 April, 1945, at about 0548, three planes were seen approaching the Coast Guard manned LST-884 which was part of Task Group 51.8 then off Okinawa. All port guns opened fire and one plane immediately burst into flames, nosed into a shallow dive and crashed into the port side of the LST, plunging through the ship fitter’s shop, and into the tank deck, where it exploded with intense flame. The plane had crashed through the 81 HM and 60 MM mortar ammunition, causing it to explode. Three fire nozzles were placed down vents, as nearly as possible to the point of impact but the LST was repeatedly shaken by violent explosions. At 0554 the fire, which had started in the main engine room, was reported under control, but a heavy, acrid smoke had entered the engine room making it impossible for men on watch to remain and the engines were secured. The auxiliary engine room watch reported the plating getting red hot and the smoke unbearable and these men were also ordered out. It appeared that the ship would be blown to bits by exploding ammunition or fuel tanks and at 0555 the order was given to abandon ship. By 0605 all hands were reported out of living spaces and engine rooms. Men in the water were being picked up by the ship’s boats and boats from other LST’s and LSM’s. At 0610 the Commanding Officer, after all hands had cleared ship, departed and was taken to a destroyer lying nearby. At 0731 it was determined that most of the heavier ammunition had already exploded and the commanding officer and four other officers returned aboard with two enlisted men, manned the pump and brought two streams to bear on the fire. At 0800 three other officers and 15 enlisted men voluntarily returned to assist in fire fighting and 4 LCS’s secured alongside, putting enough water on deck to permit walking about. Several heavy explosions and numerous minor ones occurred during this time and it seemed for a while that it would be impossible to bring the fire under control. Cargo ammunition carried on the main deck, starboard side, was jettisoned, but it was impossible to jettison TNT blocks and W. P. ammunition carried on the port side as the heat and flames had set it afire and the W. P. had begun to explode. At 1100, however, the fire was deemed under control, but as the tank deck and both engine rooms were flooded, it was suggested that the ship be beached. At 1400, the USS YUMA (AT-94) took the LST in tow and anchored in Kerama Retto Harbor at 1838. By the 13th the ship was reported ready for sea, after eleven days of cleaning and salvage work. As a 20 foot hole remained in the port side and the tank deck was open to the sea, plating was welded over these holes completely closing them. On the 14th, the LST was underway for Guam in tow of LST-940. Twenty bodies had been buried, some identified and others not. It was believed that all dead, with one exception, were Marines, as most of the bodies were taken from the tank deck. One member of the ship’s company was wounded and one killed.”
From: NavSource Online
MoMM1C Forest D. Flockencier’s Temporary Grave (Front-Left)
Including his parents, Forest D. Flockencier left behind his wife and four month old son, Stuart. MoMM1C Forest D. Flockencier, Jr. was buried in a temporary grave in the U.S. Armed Forces Cemetery (Zamami Island) Itoman, Itoman-shi, Okinawa, Japan. In February 1945, the remains of MoMM1C Forest D. Flockencier, were returned to this country for burial, aboard the U. S. A. T. Dalton Victory. MoMM1C Forest D. Flockencier, Jr. was laid to rest in Gethsemane Cemetery and Crematory, Detroit, Michigan.
MoMM1C Forest D. Flockencier is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery; and on the Universal Cooler Corp. Honor Roll.
Oliver Stanley Wiseman was born in Waterloo, Ohio. He was born on 2 September 1924. His parents are James F. & Amy A. (Payne) Wiseman of Marion, Ohio. Wiseman attended schools in Waterloo. He would come to Marion, Ohio, and was employed with Commercial Steel Castings Company. Oliver S. Wiseman was married to Margaret (Riggsby) Wiseman. They had two daughters, Madonna and Patricia. Wiseman was drafted into service from Marion, Ohio, in April of 1944. He served in the United States Navy. Oliver S. Wiseman was a Fireman First Class (F-1C). F-1C Wiseman was killed in action on 28 May 1945, while serving in the Pacific Theater. He was killed during the battle for Okinawa “Operation Iceberg.” In an article dated 21 February 1949, it is reported that the body of F-1C Oliver S. Wiseman was returned for burial and that the body was to be sent to Ironton for burial. His remains were returned aboard the U. S. A. T Dalton Victory. No grave is know at the writing of this article. His parents are buried in Fairview Cemetery in Wilgus, Ohio. A military headstone application was made for Oliver S. Wiseman, for Wilgus, Ohio. F-1C Oliver S. Wiseman is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.
Robert E. Goodrich was born 26 October 1924. Robert’s parents were Vernon L. & Emily J. Goodrich of Marion, Ohio. Robert E. Goodrich attended schools in Marion. Prior to enlistment Goodrich was living in Middletown, Ohio, where he was employed. Robert E. Goodrich enlisted while in Middletown, in June 1942. He would enlist in the United States Navy. He took basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois and advanced training in Norfolk, Virginia. Seaman First Class (S-1C) Goodrich would leave the states for the Southwest Pacific serving on convoy duty in January of 1944. The exact circumstances of S-1C Goodrich’s death are not known, but he was reported as buried at sea. S-1C Robert E. Goodrich is listed on the Honor Roll, of the USS Birmingham (CL-62), aka Mighty B. We have an account of the actions that day aboard the Mighty B, on 4 May 1945, the day S-1C Goodrich was killed in action.
Aboard the Birmingham everything seemed rather peaceful. It was a beautiful cloudless day, and we weren’t firing at the moment. Then, at 0840, a plane was splashed by the St. Louis only 4,000 yards away. The very next thing that most of us recall was the rattling sound of 20mm. fire coming from our own ship, and to men who had fought and lived through almost constant air attacks for forty consecutive days and nights, 20mm. fire was the most frightening, God-awful sound imaginable. The next few seconds seemed like eternity, and then it happened. The plane, a single-engined “Oscar,” plunged into the starboard side of the main deck just abaft turret 2, and the ship shuddered with the impact. Those of us who were there had an indelible and everlasting picture carved into our minds as men streamed up from below in ever increasing numbers to receive much needed medical attention and comfort from the more fortunate ones. Yes, the Birmingham had taken a third strike. The plane itself penetrated to the third deck, where it exploded. The estimated 500 pound bomb carried under the fuselage kept on going and exploded farther down, the force of the blast carrying upward and forward. The entire sick bay area was demolished, resulting in the death of both the ship’s medical officers and the majority of our pharmacist’s mates and hospital corpsmen. Flaming gasoline started fires over the entire area. Powder magazines in the vicinity were immediately flooded as a precaution.
From The Saga of the USS Birmingham; A Compilation of Her Officers and Men, excerpt for May 4th 1945.
USS Birmingham (CL-62), aka Mighty B
S-1C Robert E. Goodrich is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery. S-1C Robert E. Goodrich is also remembered on the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.
USS Birmingham Display Aboard the USS Alabama, Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Alabama
George Harmon Chapman was born 21 February 1910, in Marion, Ohio. His parents were Thomas & Francis B. (Callahan) Chapman. George H. Chapman was employed with the Marion Star prior to entering service. George H. Chapman would enter service in June of 1942, with the United States Army. Chapman would receive training at the following locations: Camp Pickett, Virginia; Camp Howze, Texas; Camp Blanding, Florida; Camp Livingston, Louisiana; and Fort Ord, California. Chapman was an infantryman with the expert rifleman badge. He would attain the rank of Sergeant (Sgt.) and serve in New Caledonia from June to September 1944, and Espiritu Santo, in the archipelago of New Hebrides, from September 1944 to March of 1945. Sgt. George H. Chapman was assigned to the 27th Infantry Division, “the New York Division.” Sgt. Chapman would be part of Operation Iceberg. Operation Iceberg was the codename for the invasion of Okinawa in April of 1945. On 28 April 1945, while Sgt. Chapman was leading a squad on the Island of Okinawa, he was ambushed by a Japanese heavy machine gun emplacement. Sgt. Chapman was hit and died almost immediately. His squad was able to recover his body. Sgt. Chapman’s brother, Thomas Chapman, Jr., received a letter from Captain David Rose, army chaplain. The chaplain expressed his regrets for the families loss and stated that a funeral was held on the island. He described the burial location as “overlooking the China Sea.” Early on in the Battle for Okinawa, bodies of service members were buried in temporary graves. This was difficult at first due to the closeness to the battle front. Later weather and terrain became an issue in the preservation of identification. A typhoon, in October of 1945, would add to the difficulties. Nearly 95 percent of the casualties were recovered and identified. Sgt. Chapman was given a proper military funeral and most likely laid to rest, under the name, Harmon Chapman, in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. George H. Chapman is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 