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Casualty Info
Home Town Fort Lupton, CO
Last Address Fort Lupton, CO
Casualty Date Oct 25, 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)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
S1c Faass was stationed aboard the USS Hoel (DD-533). During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the ship was the target of both torpedoes and large caliber gun fire from Japanese ships. Although the Hoel was damaged, her crew continued to fight. Once the ship was damged and the captain knew the ship would be lost, he ordered the ship be abandoned. The men continued to leave the ship until it rooled over and sank. Of the crew, 253 men died either because they didn't get off the ship or drowned while awaiting rescue. It is unknown into which category Faass should be placed. He was listed as missing in action and later declared dead.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 619625
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
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".
