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Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
Pennsylvania | |
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Year of Birth
1926 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sheila Rae Myers, HM3
to remember
Bluzard, Kenneth Paul, S2c.
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
Eddysburg, PA |
Last Address
770 Freeman Ave
Prospect Park, PA
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Casualty Date
Jan 21, 1945 |
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Cause
Hostile, Died |
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) |
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Last Known Activity
Just after noon on January 21, 1945, a single-engine Japanese aircraft scored a hit on USS Langley with a glide-bombing attack. Seconds later, a kamikaze swooped out of the clouds and plunged toward USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). The aircraft crashed through the ship's flight deck abreast of the No. 2 5 in mount, and its bomb exploded just above her hangar deck. Several aircraft stowed nearby erupted into flames and men were killed. While the crew were ordered into action to save the endangered carrier, Captain Kiefer conned his ship skillfully. First, he changed course to keep the wind from fanning the blaze. Then, he ordered magazines and other compartments flooded to prevent further explosions and to correct a 10 degree starboard list. Finally, he instructed the damage control party to continue flooding compartments on Ticonderoga's port side which induced a 10 degree port list which dumped the fire overboard. Firefighters and aircraft handlers completed the dangerous job of dousing the flames and jettisoning burning aircraft. Other kamikaze then assailed the carrier. Her antiaircraft gunners shot down three which all crashed into the sea, but a fourth aircraft struck the carrier's starboard side near the island. Its bomb set more aircraft on fire, riddled her flight deck, and injured or killed another 100 sailors.
S2c Bluzard was killed in action and buried at sea by his shipmates.
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Comments/Citation
Service number: 2462786
The information contained within this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
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