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Home Town born in San Francisco raised in Seattle, Wash.
Last Address Burial: Calvary Cemetery Seattle King County Washington, US
Date of Passing Aug 30, 1984
Location of Interment Calvary Cemetery - Seattle, Washington
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
JOSEPH GEORGE POMEROY
Rear Admiral
J. G. Pomeroy was born in San Francisco on February 12, 1889. At a young age he moved with his family to Seattle, Washington. He entered the Navy reserve in 1918 and attended the Naval School of Engineering in Seattle. In 1919 he married Marie Doyle. In 1920 he entered the regular Navy as an ensign. Marie died in 1921, shortly after giving birth to their son, George Edward Pomeroy.
In 1928 he married Josephine Thompson, having met her at a White House State Dinner. They had three children, Mary Elizabeth in 1930, Corbin Thompson in 1932 and David Gilbert in 1936.
Mr. Pomeroy stayed in the navy and worked his way up the ranks. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1939 and Commander in 1939 and Commander in 1940. He took over command of the USS Harry Lee, from Commander Loomis, in March of 1943.
He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his performance at the invasion of Sicily. On his 56th birthday, 2/12/1945, he was relieved of command of the USS Harry Lee.
His next command was of the USS Dauntless in Washington D.C., the flagship for the Chief of Naval Operations. At that time he held the rank of “Captain under temporary appointment”. He assisted with it’s decommissioning in 1946, and then requested retirement. On January 8th, 1947, he received a letter from the Secretary of the Navy transferring him to the retirement list with the permanent rank of Captain. On 1/22/1947 he received a second letter stating “Having been specially commended by the head of the Executive Office for performance of duty in actual combat with the enemy, you were, when placed on he retired list, advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral”.
After he retired, Mr. Pomeroy moved with his daughter and youngest son David to Redlands, California, where he bought a small orange grove and became a “gentleman farmer”. For many years he was active in civic duties and sat on many boards. He was a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, active in the American Legion and the local camera club. For many years, one of his photographs was displayed in the lobby of the Eastman Kodak Company in NYC. He also worked with a local agronomist on experiments in citrus husbandry. In his retirement Mr. Pomeroy enjoyed traveling, salmon fishing, and was never without his camera, taking photos wherever he went. At his death in 1984, at age 96, Mr. Pomeroy had four children, nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Other Comments:
During World War II USS Harry Lee was first assigned to the European Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater participating in the following campaigns:
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Sicilian occupation
Scoglitti, 10 to 12 July 1943
Gilbert Islands operation
Tarawa, 20 to 21 November 1943
Marshall Islands operation
Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 5 February 1944
Hollandia operation, 23 April 1944
Marianas operation
Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 25 July 1944
Luzon operation
Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 10 January 1945
Iwo Jima operation
Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 3 February to 6 March 1945
Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)/Battle of Guam
From Month/Year
July / 1944
To Month/Year
August / 1944
Description Guam, ringed by reefs, cliffs, and heavy surf, presents a formidable challenge for an attacker. But despite the obstacles, on 21 July, the Americans landed on both sides of the Orote peninsula on the western side of Guam, planning to cut off the airfield. The 3rd Marine Division landed near Agana to the north of Orote at 08:28, and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade landed near Agat to the south. Japanese artillery sank 20 LVTs, and inflicted heavy casualties on the Americans, especially on the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, but by 09:00 men and tanks were ashore at both beaches. The 77th Infantry Division had a more difficult landing. Lacking amphibious vehicles, they had to wade ashore from the edge of the reef where they were dropped by their landing craft. The men stationed in the two beachheads were pinned down by heavy Japanese fire, making initial progress inland quite slow.
US Marines move inland.
By nightfall, the Americans had established beachheads about 6,600 feet (2,000 m) deep. Japanese counterattacks were made throughout the first few days of the battle, mostly at night, using infiltration tactics. Several times, they penetrated the American defenses and were driven back with heavy loss of men and equipment. Lieutenant General Takeshi Takashina was killed on 28 July, and Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata took over the command of the defenders.
Supply was very difficult for the Americans in the first days of the battle. Landing ships could not come closer than the reef, several hundred yards from the beach, and amphibious vehicles were scarce. However, the two beachheads were joined up on 25 July, and the Orote airfield and Apra harbor were captured by 30 July.
The counterattacks against the American beachheads, as well as the fierce fighting, had exhausted the Japanese. At the start of August, they were running out of food and ammunition and had only a handful of tanks left. Obata withdrew his troops from the south of Guam, planning to make a stand in the mountainous central and northern part of the island. But with resupply and reinforcement impossible because of American control of the sea and air around Guam, he could hope to do no more than delay the inevitable defeat for a few days.
Rain and thick jungle made conditions difficult for the Americans, but after an engagement at Mount Barrigada from 2-4 August, the Japanese line collapsed; the rest of the battle was a pursuit to the north. As in other battles of the Pacific War, the Japanese refused to surrender, and almost all were killed. On 10 August, after three weeks of combat, organized Japanese resistance ended, and Guam was declared secure. The next day, Obata committed ritual suicide.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1944
To Month/Year
August / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Landing troops on Guam
Harry Lee was next to take part in the invasion of the Marianas. After landing operations conducted around Guadalcanal the ship sailed to Kwajalein and got underway in convoy for Guam 12 June. During this gigantic operation, in which troops were projected over 1,000 miles of ocean from the nearest advance base, Harry Lee was held in reserve for the Guam landings. She arrived off Agat, Guam, 21 July 1944 and debarked her troops. The transport then remained offshore loading and relanding troops for tactical purposes until 25 July, when she steamed with her fellow transports to Eniwetok. They arrived 29 July, and 2 days later sailed for Pearl Harbor.
