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Home Town Van Buren, Arkansas
Last Address ENSMINGER, Charles Lee, Storekeeper 1st class, U.S. Navy. Died 13 December 1937 at Hohsien, China, as result of gunshot wounds. Surviving relatives: Widow, Mrs. Lucile C. Ensminger, c/o Mr. H.T. Omslaer, #1006 Davis St., Evanston, Illinois.
Date of Passing Dec 13, 1937
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
ENSMINGER, Charles Lee, S.K.1c, USN
Killed in Action, USS Panay, Yangtze River Patrol
December 1937
While it did not lead to war, the Panay incident certainly hardened attitudes in the United States. From 1938 onward, Americaâ??s stance towards Japan would be increasingly tough, and its actions viewed as aggressive. After the outbreak of WWII of course, the Panay incident took on a different meaning: it was seen as a deceitful prelude to Pearl Harbor. â??Remember the Panayâ?? became a well-known slogan, albeit one less powerful than that affiliated with the Maine. â??I have been told I am the first U.S. Naval officer,â?? Cmdr. Arthur Anders recounted proudly in 1999, â??to give the order to commence firing on Japanese military forces.â?? From that perspective, coxswain Edgar Hulsebus and storekeeper Charles L. Ensminger were the first American sailors to die in WWII. Unfortunately, they would not be the last.
Died 13 Dec. 1937 at Hohsien, China - gunshot wounds. Ensmingerâ??s death resulted, after the crew abandoned ship, from a machine gun bullet wound he suffered when the motor sampan was strafed.
His family was later awarded $60,000 for his wounds.
