This Fallen Navy Profile is not currently maintained by any Member.
If you would like to take responsibility for researching and maintaining this Fallen profile please click
HERE
Casualty Info
Home Town New Albany, IN
Last Address 36 W 9th St New Albany, IN
Casualty Date Oct 24, 1944
Cause Non Hostile- Died Other Causes
Reason Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Fairview Cemetery - New Albany, Indiana
Wall/Plot Coordinates (memorial marker)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
On October 24, 1944, the USS Birmingham (CL-62) was rendering firefighting assistance to the aircraft carrier Princeton during the Battle of Leyte Gulf when flames touched off the after magazines of the carrier. The subsequent explosions showered the Birmingham with debris and shrapnel, killing 233 men, and wounding 426. S2c Babbs was among the men killed. He was buried at sea.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 6348196
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
Central Pacific Campaign (1941-43)/Battle of Tarawa
From Month/Year
November / 1943
To Month/Year
November / 1943
Description The Battle of Tarawa (US code name Operation Galvanic) was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It took place at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, located in what is now the nation of Kiribati. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in the fighting, mostly on and around the small island of Betio.
The Battle of Tarawa was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region. It was also the first time in the war that the United States faced serious Japanese opposition to an amphibious landing. Previous landings met little or no initial resistance. but this time the 4,500 Japanese defenders were well-supplied and well-prepared, and they fought almost to the last man, exacting a heavy toll on the United States Marine Corps. The U.S. had suffered similar casualties in other campaigns, for example over the six months of the Guadalcanal Campaign, but in this case the losses were incurred within the space of 76 hours.