Louis Naranjo “Louie” Jaramillo

Louis Naranjo “Louie” Jaramillo Veteran

Birth
Death
11 Nov 1951
Burial
Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA GPS-Latitude: 32.3114500, Longitude: -106.7704330
Plot
Section D, Row 11, Marker 31
Memorial ID
32180488 View Source
US Navy SKG3-E4
Service Number: 3668531
Place of Loss: Off Kojo coastline, N. Korea.
Ship: USS Gloucester (PF-22), USN Fleet

Storekeeper Third Class Louis Jaramillo served with the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Jaramillo was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and ultimately the Purple Heart.

On November 10, 1951 USS Gloucester relieved the USS Purdy (DD-734) on their "Winter Resort" patrol including anti-mining, interdiction fire and shore bombardment off the Kojo coastline.

On November 11, 1951 Armistice (Veterans) Day, while conducting interdiction fire and shore bombardment off the Kojo coastline, the USS Gloucester engaged in a duel with North Korean shore batteries at Hŭngnam. The USS Gloucester took several direct hits that killed Storekeeper Jaramillo and seriously wounded 11 others.

While the USS Gloucester was zigzagging and returning fire, incoming enemy air bursts were raining shrapnel from above. Sonar recorded hundreds of near misses in the waters around the USS Gloucester when one fateful enemy shell found its' mark on the aft 20mm gun tub where Louis and several shipmates were manning their general quarters. The combat veterans of the USS Gloucester will never forget that day and will never forget Louie.

On November 13, 1951 operation COUNTER-PUNCH was carried out by the USS Toledo (CA 133) against the Kojo coastline gun emplacements. These shore batteries had killed Louie just two days before. Direct hits were reported on three gun emplacements.

===========================

Louis Naranjo Jaramillo. He was the Jack-of-the-Dust, an old Navy term, and he was in charge of storing and retrieving all commissary stores. When he was in the supply office working on records, he worked at a table alongside me. I often think about the quirk of fate that assigned him to that 20mm and me to a different 20mm.

I'll never forget seeing all the splashes (near misses) in the waters around our ship as we were being fired upon.

Dennis Sands
Baxter, MN

===========================

Louis was a Storekeeper on the ship and was supposed to leave the ship prior to reporting back to the war zone. However, there was no relief (replacement) for him in Sasebo, Japan. So he stayed on the ship for the next tour.

I was the sight setter on one of the forward 3" guns (mount 32, right under the bridge). We were doing the shore bombardment that Armistice Day morning. When we started getting secondary explosions, off our rounds, is when all hell broke loose. I jumped off the gun mount and started handling ammunition when an enemy shell fragment bounced off the side of our open gun tub and hit one of my shipmates behind the leg, nearly flipping him completely over. He luckily hobbled away with nothing more than a badly bruised leg.

I'll never forget the sound of raining shrapnel hitting the steel deck of our ship and all the seriously wounded sailors aft.

Louis was killed during my first tour on the USS Gloucester, PF-22.

Joseph Nigro MR3
Ripon / Salinas, CA

===========================

I remember that Sunday afternoon as if it were yesterday. Louie was in the rear gun tub, where three 20mm AA guns were located. It took a direct hit from a 125mm (4.9") shell killing him instantly and seriously wounding 11 other shipmates. I was busy manning a 20mm on the port side of the bridge.

The smell of gun powder and death haunts me even today.

It was my first combat in Korea!

Frank Stamos
Lodi, CA

===========================

I went aboard the USS Gloucester (PF 22), about June or July 1951. I left the ship around June 1st, 1952. I was the ship's yeoman shortly after arriving on board. Our ship worked out of Sasebo, Japan.

Our main task was escorting larger ships, tankers and others into the zone where the war was being waged. Also, another major task was seeking to spot "homemade mines," placed in our path by the North Koreans.

Sometimes we were fired upon from the shore of North Korea. It was on such an occasion that we were hit by several shots, with several men being wounded. A young man, soon to go home, was killed. I have searched my records, which are few, and can not find his name. I have no great burden to find it, but he deserves to be remembered.

He was very well liked by the crew.

Weldon Causseaux
Big Canoe, GA
June 10, 1998

===========================

I was aboard the Glouchester when she was returned to the USN from Russia. We put her back in common in Yokosuka Japan. We actually spent more time in the repair yard than we did at sea. I thought it was great duty and have many fond memories. Because of the shelling in Korea,where we took a hit, those aboard were presented with a special medal. If I remember correctly it was given by the then President of South Korea. When we returned from Korean waters we went to Sasebo Japan. As we entered the Sasebo harbor, every ship had their crews standing topside in dress whites saluting as as we passed by in parade.

DONALD BOONE
GLENEDEN BEACH, OR
December 30, 2011

===========================

Louis (Louie) was a friend and classmate of mine at Las Cruces Union High School class of 1947.

Two other class mates of ours were also KIA's in the Korean War, 2nd Lt's. USA, Buddy Bradley & Tom Medinger. Louis' name is listed on the Veterans Wall Memorial at Veterans Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Antonio Barncastle
Las Cruces, NM

===========================

Transcription of letter sent to Dennis Sands and the crew of the U.S.S. Gloucester from the Jaramillo family.

Las Cruces, New Mexico
May 28, 1952.

Dear Mr. Sands:

We do not know how to thank you and the fellow crew members of our son's ship, the U.S.S. Gloucester, for the offering given us. It is a wonderful feeling to know that the fellow shipmates of our beloved son feel as they do, and the thought will be carried in our hearts always.

In memory of our son, we are going to get a shrine established in the Saint Genevieve Catholic Church here in Las Cruces. The shrine will be two-fold in the purpose as prayers will be offered for the safekeeping, and continued safety of the U.S.S. Gloucester and crew.

We are wondering if it would be possible to obtain a picture of our son's ship, the U.S.S. Gloucester.

We sincerely thank you for your sympathy and memorial in this time of our bereavement.

Sincerely yours,
Mr. & Mrs. Pat Jaramillo

===========================

Jaramillo's body was moved to the USS Toledo (CA-133) before being sent back to New Mexico.

+++++

Louis' name can be found on the UN Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance in Busan, South Korea.

+++++

Louis' name can also be found on the California Korean War Memorial at the San Juaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, CA.

And the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC
https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/jaramillo%3Dlouis

"Freedom is not Free"
US Navy SKG3-E4
Service Number: 3668531
Place of Loss: Off Kojo coastline, N. Korea.
Ship: USS Gloucester (PF-22), USN Fleet

Storekeeper Third Class Louis Jaramillo served with the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Jaramillo was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and ultimately the Purple Heart.

On November 10, 1951 USS Gloucester relieved the USS Purdy (DD-734) on their "Winter Resort" patrol including anti-mining, interdiction fire and shore bombardment off the Kojo coastline.

On November 11, 1951 Armistice (Veterans) Day, while conducting interdiction fire and shore bombardment off the Kojo coastline, the USS Gloucester engaged in a duel with North Korean shore batteries at Hŭngnam. The USS Gloucester took several direct hits that killed Storekeeper Jaramillo and seriously wounded 11 others.

While the USS Gloucester was zigzagging and returning fire, incoming enemy air bursts were raining shrapnel from above. Sonar recorded hundreds of near misses in the waters around the USS Gloucester when one fateful enemy shell found its' mark on the aft 20mm gun tub where Louis and several shipmates were manning their general quarters. The combat veterans of the USS Gloucester will never forget that day and will never forget Louie.

On November 13, 1951 operation COUNTER-PUNCH was carried out by the USS Toledo (CA 133) against the Kojo coastline gun emplacements. These shore batteries had killed Louie just two days before. Direct hits were reported on three gun emplacements.

===========================

Louis Naranjo Jaramillo. He was the Jack-of-the-Dust, an old Navy term, and he was in charge of storing and retrieving all commissary stores. When he was in the supply office working on records, he worked at a table alongside me. I often think about the quirk of fate that assigned him to that 20mm and me to a different 20mm.

I'll never forget seeing all the splashes (near misses) in the waters around our ship as we were being fired upon.

Dennis Sands
Baxter, MN

===========================

Louis was a Storekeeper on the ship and was supposed to leave the ship prior to reporting back to the war zone. However, there was no relief (replacement) for him in Sasebo, Japan. So he stayed on the ship for the next tour.

I was the sight setter on one of the forward 3" guns (mount 32, right under the bridge). We were doing the shore bombardment that Armistice Day morning. When we started getting secondary explosions, off our rounds, is when all hell broke loose. I jumped off the gun mount and started handling ammunition when an enemy shell fragment bounced off the side of our open gun tub and hit one of my shipmates behind the leg, nearly flipping him completely over. He luckily hobbled away with nothing more than a badly bruised leg.

I'll never forget the sound of raining shrapnel hitting the steel deck of our ship and all the seriously wounded sailors aft.

Louis was killed during my first tour on the USS Gloucester, PF-22.

Joseph Nigro MR3
Ripon / Salinas, CA

===========================

I remember that Sunday afternoon as if it were yesterday. Louie was in the rear gun tub, where three 20mm AA guns were located. It took a direct hit from a 125mm (4.9") shell killing him instantly and seriously wounding 11 other shipmates. I was busy manning a 20mm on the port side of the bridge.

The smell of gun powder and death haunts me even today.

It was my first combat in Korea!

Frank Stamos
Lodi, CA

===========================

I went aboard the USS Gloucester (PF 22), about June or July 1951. I left the ship around June 1st, 1952. I was the ship's yeoman shortly after arriving on board. Our ship worked out of Sasebo, Japan.

Our main task was escorting larger ships, tankers and others into the zone where the war was being waged. Also, another major task was seeking to spot "homemade mines," placed in our path by the North Koreans.

Sometimes we were fired upon from the shore of North Korea. It was on such an occasion that we were hit by several shots, with several men being wounded. A young man, soon to go home, was killed. I have searched my records, which are few, and can not find his name. I have no great burden to find it, but he deserves to be remembered.

He was very well liked by the crew.

Weldon Causseaux
Big Canoe, GA
June 10, 1998

===========================

I was aboard the Glouchester when she was returned to the USN from Russia. We put her back in common in Yokosuka Japan. We actually spent more time in the repair yard than we did at sea. I thought it was great duty and have many fond memories. Because of the shelling in Korea,where we took a hit, those aboard were presented with a special medal. If I remember correctly it was given by the then President of South Korea. When we returned from Korean waters we went to Sasebo Japan. As we entered the Sasebo harbor, every ship had their crews standing topside in dress whites saluting as as we passed by in parade.

DONALD BOONE
GLENEDEN BEACH, OR
December 30, 2011

===========================

Louis (Louie) was a friend and classmate of mine at Las Cruces Union High School class of 1947.

Two other class mates of ours were also KIA's in the Korean War, 2nd Lt's. USA, Buddy Bradley & Tom Medinger. Louis' name is listed on the Veterans Wall Memorial at Veterans Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Antonio Barncastle
Las Cruces, NM

===========================

Transcription of letter sent to Dennis Sands and the crew of the U.S.S. Gloucester from the Jaramillo family.

Las Cruces, New Mexico
May 28, 1952.

Dear Mr. Sands:

We do not know how to thank you and the fellow crew members of our son's ship, the U.S.S. Gloucester, for the offering given us. It is a wonderful feeling to know that the fellow shipmates of our beloved son feel as they do, and the thought will be carried in our hearts always.

In memory of our son, we are going to get a shrine established in the Saint Genevieve Catholic Church here in Las Cruces. The shrine will be two-fold in the purpose as prayers will be offered for the safekeeping, and continued safety of the U.S.S. Gloucester and crew.

We are wondering if it would be possible to obtain a picture of our son's ship, the U.S.S. Gloucester.

We sincerely thank you for your sympathy and memorial in this time of our bereavement.

Sincerely yours,
Mr. & Mrs. Pat Jaramillo

===========================

Jaramillo's body was moved to the USS Toledo (CA-133) before being sent back to New Mexico.

+++++

Louis' name can be found on the UN Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance in Busan, South Korea.

+++++

Louis' name can also be found on the California Korean War Memorial at the San Juaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, CA.

And the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC
https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/jaramillo%3Dlouis

"Freedom is not Free"

Inscription

Louis Naranjo Jaramillo
New Mexico
SK3
USNR
Korea
July 24, 1928
November 11, 1951

Gravesite Details

ROK Memorial Day - Louie is 1 of 23,615 U.S. KIA during the Korean Conflict. 1 of 364 from the USN KIA. #VeteransDay #MemorialDay #KoreanWar #KIA #USNavy #Jaramillo #KoreanWarProject #Military #MexicanAmerican #USSGloucester #Korea #ArmisticeDay



  • Created by: Kelly in CT
  • Added: 
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID: 32180488
  • Kelly in CT
  • Find a Grave, database and images (: accessed ), memorial page for Louis Naranjo “Louie” Jaramillo (24 Jul 1928–11 Nov 1951), Find a Grave Memorial ID 32180488, citing San Jose Cemetery, Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA; Maintained by Kelly in CT (contributor 47077034).