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Home Town Sheboygan WI
Last Address Died: Rancho Mirage, Riverside, California Burial: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia, USA Plot: Sec: 70, Site: 728
Date of Passing Oct 24, 1994
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Survived attacks by Japanese aircraft, December 1937 and December 1941
USS Panay, December 1937
The youngest officer on board was Lieutenant Junior Grade Denis Harry Biwerse, communications officer, a 25-year-old Wisconsinite who was assigned to the USS Asheville, but was filling in on the Panay until a replacement arrived from the states.
LTjg Biwerse had stepped out onto the forward port deck and was hit by the first explosion. He was dazed and sat on the deck with his uniform completely blown off except for his shirt. The bomb caused massive damage to the Panay, knocking out the 3-inch bow gun, wrecking the pilot house, destroying the radio equipment, toppling the main mast, rupturing the main fuel line, damaging the sick bay, puncturing the fire room, and severely wounding several other crewmen.
After recovering, Biwerse destroyed confidential publications, sank the code book, gathered clothes and blankets, collected rations and fresh eggs, and took a Lewis machine gun and ammunition. He also released the steam in the boilers to avoid an explosion when the cold river water hit the engine room. Dazed and in shock, Biwerse was one of the last to abandon ship. Four years later, to the month, Lieutenant Biwerse was in Pearl Harbor.
He was later awarded $5,000 by the Japanese government for his wounds.
Pearl Harbor, December 1941. Lieutenant Biwerse, and 11 other survivers of the attack on the USS Panay, witnessed the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
From a hometown release, The Sheboygan Press, 3 September 1943: LCDR Biwerse is a veteran of Pearl Harbor and naval engagements in the South Pacific area. Since then he has been in the Solomons, the Indian ocean, Java sea and other points in the South Pacific.
Denis H. Biwerse, Sheboygan HS, class of 1929, Sheboygan Wisconsin.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland.
Denis Harry Biwerse, sometimes listed as Dennis or Benis. These may be errors from newspaper articles at the time of the sinking of the USS Panay.
Denis H. Biwerse was born on 27 May 1912. He died on 24 Oct 1994. Denis graduated from Sheboygan (Wisconsin) High School in 1929. He attended Culver Military Academy and entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 1930 and graduated in 1934.
Other Comments:
1929-1930, Culver-Stockton College
FromYear 1929
ToYear 1930
College Culver-Stockton College
Major Culver Naval School, undergrad studies
Patch
Culver-Stockton College Details
Contact Phone Number Not Specified
Contact Email Not Specified
Year Established
0
Address Not Specified
Website Not Specified
Last Updated:Dec 21, 2011
Personal Memories
Other Memories DENIS HARRY BIWERSE "Denny" Sheboygan, Wis. We shall never forget Denny, for he has always managed to find a way to brighten up our darkest hours. How well we remember those last second dashes to formation with their ample proof of athletic prowess, and his half second lag in the step. How well we remember his sunny disposition and his invariable good humor. Never has he been known to "gripe" and never has he been known to be anything but cheerful. His mild nature has made Denny the victim of many a practical joke and some "running," but, from the first of Plebe Year, he has come up smiling. Denny came to the Naval Academy after attending the Culver Naval School, and he immediately showed his proficiency in both rifle shooting and seamanship During his four years he has demonstrated a remarkable capacity for industry and it is doubtful if any have made better use of their time than Denny, He claims to be a Red Mike but we well recall those weekends of Youngster Year which rarely found him stagging. As we remember it, that certain drag was always the same charming one, thus giving us grounds for our suspicions. Denny has more than once proved himself a real pal and is one of those scarce few who can always be relied on to perform that detestable task of standing our weekend watch when the O. A. O. is coming down. Good luck, Denny, we know we shall hear from you in the future. Wrestling 4, 2. Boxing 1. Reef Points 2, 1.
