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Service Details |
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Last Rank
Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Last Primary NEC
00X-Unknown NOC/Designator
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Last Rating/NEC Group
Line Officer
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Primary Unit
1941-1942, USS Meredith (DD-434)
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Service Years
1940 - 1942
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Personal Details
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Home State
Kentucky | |
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Year of Birth
1918 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Michael Williams, DC3
to remember
Atherton, John McDougal, LTJG.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Casualty Info
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Home Town
Harrods Creek, KY |
Last Address
Glenview, KY
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Casualty Date
Oct 15, 1942 |
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Cause
Hostile-Body Not Recovered |
Reason
Other Explosive Device |
Location
Pacific Ocean |
Conflict
World War II |
Location of Interment
Cave Hill Cemetery - Louisville, Kentucky |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
13 110 6 |
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Last Known Activity
USS Meredith (DD-434) was sighted by a Japanese patrol plane on the morning of 15 October 1942, and shortly after midday took aboard the 68-man crew of Vireo to depart the area at high speed. However, while preparing to torpedo Vireo to keep her out of Japanese hands, Meredith was attacked by a force of 38 bombers, torpedo planes, and escort fighters from Zuikaku. In the first three minutes of the attack, Meredith was struck by a bomb that exploded beneath her bridge, destroying all communications, steering control, and gun direction. A second bomb struck the forward port side, and a torpedo exploded below the ready ammunition locker, igniting the ship's pyrotechnics and setting fire to fuel oil leaking from her bunkers. Meredith fought fiercely, and brought down three of her attackers, but she was struck by an estimated 14 bombs and seven torpedoes. Meredith rolled over and sank in 10 minutes. Of the crew of 273 on board that day, only eight officers and 73 enlisted men survived the attack.
LTJG Atherton was among the men listed as missing in action and later declared dead.
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Comments/Citation
Service number: Enlisted - 4007356 Officer - 095601
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