This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2
to remember
Foss, Clarence Stewart, F2c.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Ventura
Casualty Date Oct 24, 1944
Cause MIA-Died in Captivity
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Philippines
Conflict World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Philippine Islands Campaign (1941-42)/Battle of the Philippines
Location of Interment Buried at Sea, Pacific Ocean
Philippine Islands Campaign (1941-42)/Battle of the Philippines
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
May / 1942
Description American Forces relentless effort to hold the Philippine Islands against an overwhelming Japanese Force. The Japanese eventually forced an American Surrender.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
May / 1942
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories On 7 December 1941, Canopus, aging but able, lay at Cavite Navy Yard, as tender to Submarine Squadron 20. In the days that followed, her men worked day and night to repair ships damaged in the daily air raids as well as to keep her brood of submarines at sea. With the Army falling back on Manila, Canopus sailed to Mariveles Bay at the tip of Bataan on Christmas Day. On 29 December 1941 she received her first direct bomb hit. A 500 pound armor piercing bomb penetrated all decks and exploded on the propeller shaft housing. Six sailors were killed mostly from scalding and fires started in the engine rooms and magazines. The six men were buried at sea at 1735 hours in Mariveles Bay at the tip of Bataan.
