This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tim Addington, GM3
to remember
Addington, Norman Eston, Jr., FC3c.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Grand Rapids, MI
Last Address Grand Rapids, MI
Casualty Date Oct 25, 1944
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Lost At Sea-Unrecovered
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Leyte Campaign (1944)/Battle of Samar
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
Norman was on this USS Hole from the time of Commissioning in July 1943 till the sinking and his death in Oct 25, 1944. Ancestry.com collection of US Navy Muster Reports reflects his arrival and advancement on the ship for almost every month between these dates.
Oct 25, 1944 The USS Hole DD-533
When the Japanese Navy counter-attacked to produce the decisive Battle of Leyte Gulf, she was operating north of Leyte. A powerful enemy surface force encountered her task group east of Samar on the morning of 25 October, and Hoel and other destroyers valiantly attacked them with guns and torpedoes in order to cover the escort carriers' retreat. Though Hoel was sunk in this Battle off Samar, with the loss of nearly three-quarters of her crew, one which was Norman Eddington, Jr, her sacrifice helped to save all but one of the escort carriers and to deflect the Japanese from their mission of attacking the Leyte invasion force.
Comments/Citation:
Promted from Seaman 1st Class Firecontrolman (S1c fc) to Fire Controlman Ranger Finder 3rd class petty officer (FCR3c) on 1 June 1944.
Memorial Monuments At:
Fort William McKinley / Fort Bonifacio Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery
Manila, Philippines
Marshall Islands Operation (1944)/Battle of Eniwetok Atoll (Operation Catchpole)
From Month/Year
February / 1944
To Month/Year
February / 1944
Description The Battle of Eniwetok was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought between 17 February 1944 and 23 February 1944, on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Naval bombardment of Eniwetok began on 17 February, and the 22nd Marine Regiment, commanded by Col John T. Walker, landed on Engebi Island, on 18 February at 08:43 the next day. Resistance was light, and the island was declared secure by 1450, though mopping-up continued through the next day. US losses included 85 dead and missing plus 166 wounded.
Intelligence suggested that the defenses on Eniwetok Island would be heavier than planned, though there was a comparatively preparatory bombardment before the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 106th Infantry Regiment went ashore at 0916 on 19 Feb., followed by the 3/22 at 1425. However, the Japanese soldiers had strong spider-hole positions, plus the Japanese concentrated their forces to the southwest, counterattacking the American flank, which forced the Americans to attack through the night. The island was not secured until 21 February. Americans were killed or missing and 94 wounded.
The mistake was not repeated at Parry Island. The battleships USS Tennessee and USS Pennsylvania and other ships delivered more than 900 tons of explosive onto the island. The 104th Field Artillery on eniwetok and the 2nd Separate Pack Howitzer Battalions on Japtan provided additional fire support. The 1/22 and 2/22 Marines landed at 0900 on 22 Feb. At 1930, the regimental commander radioed "I present you with the island of Parry", though operations continued through the next day. US casualties included 73 dead and missing plus 261 wounded.
