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Contact Info
Home Town Sheboygan WI
Last Address Died: Rancho Mirage, Riverside, California Burial: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia, USA Plot: Sec: 70, Site: 728
Date of Passing Oct 24, 1994
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Survived attacks by Japanese aircraft, December 1937 and December 1941
USS Panay, December 1937
The youngest officer on board was Lieutenant Junior Grade Denis Harry Biwerse, communications officer, a 25-year-old Wisconsinite who was assigned to the USS Asheville, but was filling in on the Panay until a replacement arrived from the states.
LTjg Biwerse had stepped out onto the forward port deck and was hit by the first explosion. He was dazed and sat on the deck with his uniform completely blown off except for his shirt. The bomb caused massive damage to the Panay, knocking out the 3-inch bow gun, wrecking the pilot house, destroying the radio equipment, toppling the main mast, rupturing the main fuel line, damaging the sick bay, puncturing the fire room, and severely wounding several other crewmen.
After recovering, Biwerse destroyed confidential publications, sank the code book, gathered clothes and blankets, collected rations and fresh eggs, and took a Lewis machine gun and ammunition. He also released the steam in the boilers to avoid an explosion when the cold river water hit the engine room. Dazed and in shock, Biwerse was one of the last to abandon ship. Four years later, to the month, Lieutenant Biwerse was in Pearl Harbor.
He was later awarded $5,000 by the Japanese government for his wounds.
Pearl Harbor, December 1941. Lieutenant Biwerse, and 11 other survivers of the attack on the USS Panay, witnessed the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
From a hometown release, The Sheboygan Press, 3 September 1943: LCDR Biwerse is a veteran of Pearl Harbor and naval engagements in the South Pacific area. Since then he has been in the Solomons, the Indian ocean, Java sea and other points in the South Pacific.
Denis H. Biwerse, Sheboygan HS, class of 1929, Sheboygan Wisconsin.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland.
Denis Harry Biwerse, sometimes listed as Dennis or Benis. These may be errors from newspaper articles at the time of the sinking of the USS Panay.
Denis H. Biwerse was born on 27 May 1912. He died on 24 Oct 1994. Denis graduated from Sheboygan (Wisconsin) High School in 1929. He attended Culver Military Academy and entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 1930 and graduated in 1934.
Other Comments:
World War II/American Theater
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Last Updated: Dec 24, 2023
Personal Memories
Memories From an article dated September 1943: LCDR Biwerse is a veteran of Pearl Harbor and naval engagements in the South Pacific area. Since then he has been in the Solomons, the Indian ocean, Java sea and other points in the South Pacific.
