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Theodore Earley (Teddy)-Family
to remember
Coleman, Theodore ("JOHN or TEDDY"), BM1c.
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Contact Info
Home Town Muncie, Indiana
Last Address Pompano Beach, FL
Date of Passing Jul 30, 2001
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Custer (AP-85) was launched as Sea Eagle 6 November 1942 by Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, Miss., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. L. S. Border; acquired by the Navy 23 January 1943, and commissioned in full 18 July 1943, Captain R. E. Hansen, in command. reclassified APA-40, 1 February 1943
Departing Norfolk 11 December 1943, Custer arrived at Pearl Harbor 10 January 1944, carrying Seabees. She loaded troops at Honolulu and sortied 23 January as a part of TF 61 for the Marshalls operation. Held in reserve during the invasion of Kwajalein, she landed her troops on Eniwetok on 19 February and embarked casualties, with whom she returned to Pearl Harbor 6 March.
After sailing to embark men and cargo at San Francisco Custer joined in amphibious training exercises in the Hawaiians, and arrived at Kwajalein 9 June. She put to sea 2 days later for the assaults on Saipan and later on Guam, transporting troops and evacuating casualties to Eniwetok until her return to Pearl Harbor 7 August.
Custer sailed from Pearl Harbor 15 September 1944 by way of Eniwetok and Manus for the invasion landings on Leyte of 20 and 21 October. Safely out of Leyte Gulf before the great battle for its possession, she loaded reinforcements at Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, from 26 October to 14 November, then landed them on Leyte 18 November. After replenishing at Manus and training at Huon Gulf, N.G., Custer sailed on 31 December for the invasion landings at Lingayen Gulf of 9 to 12 January 1945. She operated in the Philippines, participating in the unopposed landings at La Paz, Zambales, on 29 January and acting as mother ship for landing craft and coordinating cargo activities at Tarraguna, from 13 to 20 February.
Custer sailed from Leyte Gulf 27 March 1945 for the invasion of Okinawa. From 1 to 6 April she landed troops and cargo and fought off air attacks during the initial landings, then sailed for a stateside overhaul. Departing San Diego 5 August, she embarked troops at Pearl Harbor for the occupation of Japan, landing them at Sasebo. She sailed to transport troops from Manila to Sasebo, then embarked homeward bound servicemen for San Pedro, Calif., arriving 21 November. Custer was decommissioned 24 May 1945 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 11 September 1945.
Custer received five battle stars for World War II service.
Other Comments:
Served on board during the assault and capture of Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls, Marshall Islands, from 31 January to 27 February 1944.
Participated in action against the enemy during the initial landing and assault, amphibious operations on SAIPAN IS., in the Marianas Islands during the period 16 June and 26 June 1944.
Participated in action against the enemy during the initial landing and assault, amphibious operations on GUAM IS., in the Marianas Islands during the period 21 July and 26 July 1944.
Participated in action against the enemy during the initial landing and assault, amphibious operations at LEYTE, Loyte Gulf, Philippine islands on 20 and 21 Oct 1944.
Participated in action against the enemy during the initial assault and amphibious operations at LINGAYEN, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine islands on 9 January 1945.
Participated in amphibious landing and operations at ZAMBALES PROVINCE, on Luzon I. in the Philippine Islands on 29 January 1945.
Participated in action against the enemy during the initial landing and assault amphibious operations on OKINAWA, JIMA, in the Ryukyu Retto during the period 1 April to 6 April 1945.
Well I was a BM1c and I always lead the Beach party to bring the troops to the shores.I'm also Authorized to wear the insignia for "Amphibious Force". AUTH: NBD 44-695 dated 15 June 1944.
VA File: 15-386-807
Service #: 7060326
Leyte Campaign (1944)/Battle of Leyte Gulf
From Month/Year
October / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Description The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the Battles for Leyte Gulf, and formerly known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.
It was fought in waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon from 23–26 October 1944, between combined US and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 20 October, United States troops invaded the island of Leyte as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied in Southeast Asia, and in particular depriving its forces and industry of vital oil supplies. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) mobilized nearly all of its remaining major naval vessels in an attempt to defeat the Allied invasion, but was repulsed by the US Navy's 3rd and 7th Fleets. The IJN failed to achieve its objective, suffered very heavy losses, and never afterwards sailed to battle in comparable force. The majority of its surviving heavy ships, deprived of fuel, remained in their bases for the rest of the Pacific War.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf consisted of four separate engagements between the opposing forces: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engaño and the Battle off Samar, as well as other actions.
It was the first battle in which Japanese aircraft carried out organized kamikaze attacks. By the time of the battle, Japan had fewer aircraft than the Allied forces had sea vessels, demonstrating the difference in power of the two sides at this point of the war.
