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Casualty Info
Home Town Parkesburg, PA
Last Address Seaman 1st Class Anthony Stanley Bannach was Killed In Action on March 26, 1945. Listed: Missing in Action or Buried at Sea. Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Casualty Date Mar 26, 1945
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Drowned, Suffocated
Location Pacific
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Buried at Sea, Pacific Ocean
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.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
October / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories After commissioning and a shakedown cruise, Tony's ship sailed for the Pacific area of operations in September. The Kimberly served as ASW (antisubmarine warfare) screen for battleships and cruisers during the Gilbert Islands Campaign ("Bloody" Tarawa and Makin). She also served supporting marines ashore with deadly accurate gunfire support.
Tony's ship was then sent north to the Aleutians. She silenced enemy antiaircraft batteries, also served as ASW patrol, as well as bombarding the enemy held installations in the Kuriles.
After a refit in San Francisco in September 1944, the Kimberly again sailed for the Pacific. Tony's ship saw duty in support of the liberation of Leyte Island in the Philippines. In November, while escorting a supply convoy, she fought a 2-hour kamikaze attack, destroying one and helping to destroy 2 more.
In January, Tony's ship departed for Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, arriving January 6th, 4 days before Hero Emidio Falini was killed in the Gulf. The ship destroyed one Kamikaze on the way, and two while in the Gulf. She served as gunfire support for the troops ashore.
In February, Tony's ship left to support the Okinawa campaign. The Kimberly served as a radar picket to detect incoming Kamikaze's off the island of Ryukyus. The Kimberly received provisions from the supply ship, USS Haydes AF-28. On board was his brother, Edward - Petty Officer 2nd Class, who was a baker aboard the Haydes. The brothers spent time during the two days of provisioning.
On March 26th the USS Kimberly was attacked by two Kamikazes - Japanese 'Val' dive-bombers. They shot down one, but the other, despite numerous hits and in flames, continued and crashed into the after gun mounts, killing 4 men and wounding 57. Although heavily damaged, the ship survived was able to sail back to the states for repairs.
Tony was serving on one of these gun mounts, and had just switched places before the attack, with a friend, Frank Fagan.
Seaman 1st Class Anthony Stanley Bannach was Killed In Action on March 26, 1945.
