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Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Paquet, Freeman, Jr., PO1.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Milford, CT
Last Address 351 Springs Rd Vallejo, CA
Casualty Date Aug 24, 1944
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery and Memorial - Manila, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates (cenotaph)
Military Service Number 2 071 961
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
The USS Harder (SS-257) began her 6th War Patrol on August 5th, 1944 and formed a "wolfpack" with four other submarines. She sank two merchant ships before her final attack on August 24th. While the Hake escaped sinking, a depth charge attack sunk the Harder with all hands. Gunner's Mate First Class Paquet was listed as Missing in Action and later declared dead 2 October 1945.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 2071961
Silver Star
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Harder (SS-257):
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Gunner's Mate First Class Freeman Paquet, Jr. (NSN: 2071961), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. HARDER (SS-257), on the FOURTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 29 March 1944 to 20 April 1944, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific Area. On 1 April 1944, during that war patrol, Gunner's Mate First Class Paquet served as a member of a volunteer rescue team dispatched from the HARDER to an enemy held island to rescue a naval aviator whose plane had been shot down. Although fully aware that unforeseen circumstance might result in the forced abandonment of the entire party, Gunner's Mate First Class Paquet courageously fought his way through the breakers and a coral reef despite dangerous hostile sniper fire and locating the exhausted aviator, succeeded in bringing him back to Harder. His conduct throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Western Caroline Islands Operation/Battle of Peleliu
From Month/Year
September / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Description The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater of World War II, from September–November 1944 on the island of Peleliu, present-day Palau. U.S. Marines of the First Marine Division and later soldiers of the U.S. Army's 81st Infantry Division, fought to capture an airstrip on the small coral island. This battle was part of a larger offensive campaign known as Operation Forager which ran from June–November 1944 in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Major General William Rupertus, USMC—commander of 1st Marine Division—predicted the island would be secured within four days. However, due to Japan's well-crafted fortifications and stiff resistance, the battle lasted over two months. In the United States, it was a controversial battle because of the island's questionable strategic value and the high casualty rate, which exceeded all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
