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Casualty Info
Home Town Bellingham, WA
Last Address Bellingham, WA
Casualty Date Dec 18, 1944
Cause Non Hostile- Body Not Recovered
Reason Drowned, Suffocated
Location Pacific
Conflict World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Luzon Campaign (1944-45)/Battle of Mindoro
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
On 17 December 1944, the ships of Task Force 38, seven fleet and six light carriers, eight battleships, 15 cruisers, and about 50 destroyers were operating about 300 miles east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea. The carriers had just completed three days of heavy raids against Japanese airfields, suppressing enemy aircraft during the American amphibious operations against Mindoro in the Philippines. Although the sea had been becoming rougher all day, the nearby cyclonic disturbance gave relatively little warning of its approach. On 18 December, the small but violent typhoon overtook the Task Force while many of the ships were attempting to refuel. Many of the ships were caught near the center of the storm and buffeted by extreme seas and hurricane force winds. Three destroyers, USS Hull, USS Spence, and USS Monaghan, capsized and went down with practically all hands, while a cruiser, five aircraft carriers, and three destroyers suffered serious damage. Approximately 790 officers and men were lost or killed, with another 80 injured. Fires occurred in three carriers when planes broke loose in their hangars and some 146 planes on various ships were lost or damaged beyond economical repair by fires, impact damage, or by being swept overboard. This storm inflicted more damage on the Navy than any storm since the hurricane at Apia, Samoa in 1889. In the aftermath of this deadly storm, the Pacific Fleet established new weather stations in the Caroline Islands and, as they were secured, Manila, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. In addition, new weather central offices (for coordinating data) were established at Guam and Leyte.
CMM Weimers was among the missing.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 3853894
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the Yangtze River Patrol, China
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Machinist's Mate First Class Gerald L. Weimers, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty during the bombing and loss of the U.S.S. PANAY (PR-5), when that vessel was attacked by Japanese airplanes during patrol in the Yangtze River, China, on 12 December 1937. On his own initiative Machinist's Mate First Class Weimers manned a sampan, acting as both coxswain and engineer, making all trips in this boat while abandoning the ship, during which he was machined-gunned by attacking planes. He voluntarily returned to the PANAY in the face of hostile plane attacks, boarded the abandoned and sinking ship, and obtained supplies for the wounded. The conduct of Seaman First Class McEowen throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Bureau of Navigation Bulletin 261 (July 1, 1938) Action Date: 12-Dec-37 Service: Navy Rank: Machinist's Mate First Class Division: U.S.S. Panay (PR-5)
