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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
1944-1945, 00X, USS Long (DMS-12)
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Service Years
1942 - 1945
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Personal Details
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Home State
Pennsylvania | |
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Year of Birth
1920 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sheila Rae Myers, HM3
to remember
Acker, George Bernard, Jr., 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
Philadelphia, PA |
Last Address
6131 Walker St
Philadelphia, PA
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Casualty Date
Jan 07, 1945 |
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Cause
Hostile-Body Not Recovered |
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
After repairs and training at Manus, USS Long (DMS-12) departed 23 December to sweep for the landings at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon; her group was attacked 2 January 1945 in the Mindanao Sea in the first of the frequent air raids with which the Japanese attempted to repel the invasion of Luzon. Long began mine sweeps in Lingayen Gulf 6 January, evading and firing upon Japanese aircraft as she carried out her intricate mission. Shortly after noon, beginning her second run, Long spotted two Mitsubishi A6M Zeros heading for her.
Long went to 25 knots and opened fire, but a kamikaze crashed into her portside below the bridge about 1 foot above the waterline. With fires and explosions amidships, Long lost power and internal communications, and was unable to fight fires forward. Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Stanley Caplan, fearing an explosion in the forward magazine, gave permission for men trapped on the forecastle to leave the ship, but through misunderstanding, the crew aft abandoned ship. All were quickly rescued by Hovey standing by to aid the burning but still seaworthy ship.
Lieutenant Caplan prepared to lead a salvage party and board Long from Apache, but continuing heavy air attacks prevented firefighting and salvage attempts. Later that afternoon a second plane attacked Long and exploded at the same spot, destroying the bridge and breaking the ship's back. Long capsized and sank the following morning. Several of the survivors rescued by Hovey perished when Hovey herself was torpedoed and sunk by enemy planes early the next morning.
LTJG Acker was reported as missing in action and later declared dead.
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Comments/Citation
Service number: 128163
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
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Title
Not Specified
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Join Year
2018
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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2018 |
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Not Specified |
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