Gordon Newton Engstrom was born on October 17, 1924, in West Burlington, Iowa to Gordon Nathanial Engstrom and Marjorie Beryl (Adams) Engstrom. His folks always called him Gordon Junior, but his middle name was Newton (rather than Nathanial), after his maternal grandfather, Murpf Newton Adams.
He joined the Navy on October 27, 1942, ten days after his 18th birthday and served on the USS Hovey, a minesweeper that was sunk in the Philippines on January 7, 1945 at the *Battle of Lingayen Gulf. For his family back in Iowa, long, frantic days ensued until they were ensured of his survival. Gordon continued to serve until January 8, 1946.
Soon after his return from the war, Gordon married his hometown sweetheart, Margie, on August 17, 1946. Together they raised three children, mostly in Elmhurst, Illinois. Their weeks revolved around Gordon's job as an engineer, school for the kids, and church. Gordie had a big garden out back and loved to grow things for Margie to cook. On cold winter evenings, he enjoyed fixing anything mechanical, and working on the elaborate diorama he'd build up in the attic for his train set.
Over the years after Gordie's parents and little sister moved to the Oregon coast in 1952, he and his own family traveled across country many times for long visits full of family talk, picnics on the beach, and agate hunts. And when he and Margie retired in 1988, they chose to make their new home in Gleneden Beach, Oregon, to be near his mom.
He died as a result of complications from an autoimmune disorder in Lincoln City on November 8, 1995, at the age of 71. Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered at sea. A memorial marker bearing his name is near the Depoe Bay Bridge, not far from the inlet to the harbor. Every day people stand near his marker, eating saltwater taffy and looking for whale spouts, not knowing what a fine man Gordon Engstrom was, or how much he meant to those who knew him.
*Allied troupes successfully drove out the Japanese forces stationed in the Lingayen Gulf, but they suffered heavy losses. Over a period of eight long days in January, 1945, 24 ships were sunk and another 67 were damaged by kamikazes, including the battleships USS Mississippi, New Mexico and Colorado (the latter hit by friendly fire), the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia, the light cruiser USS Columbia, and the destroyers USS Long and USS Hovey. On January 7th, the Hovey was struck almost simultaneously by an enemy aircraft and a torpedo. The plane hit her starboard beam and the torpedo hit her starboard aft engine-room. Lights and power were lost instantly. The stern remained nearly level as it sunk to the top of the aft deck house. The bow listed 40 degrees to starboard and rose up, out of the water, and the ship broke in half. Within two minutes the bow listed to 90 degrees, rose vertically and began to sink, ultimately coming to rest 54 fathoms (99 m) below the surface. Twenty-four men serving on the Hovey were killed. Twenty-four more men who had been taken aboard the Hovey after the sinkings of the USS Long and the USS Brooks, also died. Survivors, including Gordon Engstrom, were rescued by the USS Chandler and later by the USS West Virginia. Following the losses, the Gulf became a supply depot for the duration of the war.
He joined the Navy on October 27, 1942, ten days after his 18th birthday and served on the USS Hovey, a minesweeper that was sunk in the Philippines on January 7, 1945 at the *Battle of Lingayen Gulf. For his family back in Iowa, long, frantic days ensued until they were ensured of his survival. Gordon continued to serve until January 8, 1946.
Soon after his return from the war, Gordon married his hometown sweetheart, Margie, on August 17, 1946. Together they raised three children, mostly in Elmhurst, Illinois. Their weeks revolved around Gordon's job as an engineer, school for the kids, and church. Gordie had a big garden out back and loved to grow things for Margie to cook. On cold winter evenings, he enjoyed fixing anything mechanical, and working on the elaborate diorama he'd build up in the attic for his train set.
Over the years after Gordie's parents and little sister moved to the Oregon coast in 1952, he and his own family traveled across country many times for long visits full of family talk, picnics on the beach, and agate hunts. And when he and Margie retired in 1988, they chose to make their new home in Gleneden Beach, Oregon, to be near his mom.
He died as a result of complications from an autoimmune disorder in Lincoln City on November 8, 1995, at the age of 71. Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered at sea. A memorial marker bearing his name is near the Depoe Bay Bridge, not far from the inlet to the harbor. Every day people stand near his marker, eating saltwater taffy and looking for whale spouts, not knowing what a fine man Gordon Engstrom was, or how much he meant to those who knew him.
*Allied troupes successfully drove out the Japanese forces stationed in the Lingayen Gulf, but they suffered heavy losses. Over a period of eight long days in January, 1945, 24 ships were sunk and another 67 were damaged by kamikazes, including the battleships USS Mississippi, New Mexico and Colorado (the latter hit by friendly fire), the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia, the light cruiser USS Columbia, and the destroyers USS Long and USS Hovey. On January 7th, the Hovey was struck almost simultaneously by an enemy aircraft and a torpedo. The plane hit her starboard beam and the torpedo hit her starboard aft engine-room. Lights and power were lost instantly. The stern remained nearly level as it sunk to the top of the aft deck house. The bow listed 40 degrees to starboard and rose up, out of the water, and the ship broke in half. Within two minutes the bow listed to 90 degrees, rose vertically and began to sink, ultimately coming to rest 54 fathoms (99 m) below the surface. Twenty-four men serving on the Hovey were killed. Twenty-four more men who had been taken aboard the Hovey after the sinkings of the USS Long and the USS Brooks, also died. Survivors, including Gordon Engstrom, were rescued by the USS Chandler and later by the USS West Virginia. Following the losses, the Gulf became a supply depot for the duration of the war.
Gordon Newton Engstrom was born on October 17, 1924, in West Burlington, Iowa to Gordon Nathanial Engstrom and Marjorie Beryl (Adams) Engstrom. His folks always called him Gordon Junior, but his middle name was Newton (rather than Nathanial), after his maternal grandfather, Murpf Newton Adams.
He joined the Navy on October 27, 1942, ten days after his 18th birthday and served on the USS Hovey, a minesweeper that was sunk in the Philippines on January 7, 1945 at the *Battle of Lingayen Gulf. For his family back in Iowa, long, frantic days ensued until they were ensured of his survival. Gordon continued to serve until January 8, 1946.
Soon after his return from the war, Gordon married his hometown sweetheart, Margie, on August 17, 1946. Together they raised three children, mostly in Elmhurst, Illinois. Their weeks revolved around Gordon's job as an engineer, school for the kids, and church. Gordie had a big garden out back and loved to grow things for Margie to cook. On cold winter evenings, he enjoyed fixing anything mechanical, and working on the elaborate diorama he'd build up in the attic for his train set.
Over the years after Gordie's parents and little sister moved to the Oregon coast in 1952, he and his own family traveled across country many times for long visits full of family talk, picnics on the beach, and agate hunts. And when he and Margie retired in 1988, they chose to make their new home in Gleneden Beach, Oregon, to be near his mom.
He died as a result of complications from an autoimmune disorder in Lincoln City on November 8, 1995, at the age of 71. Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered at sea. A memorial marker bearing his name is near the Depoe Bay Bridge, not far from the inlet to the harbor. Every day people stand near his marker, eating saltwater taffy and looking for whale spouts, not knowing what a fine man Gordon Engstrom was, or how much he meant to those who knew him.
*Allied troupes successfully drove out the Japanese forces stationed in the Lingayen Gulf, but they suffered heavy losses. Over a period of eight long days in January, 1945, 24 ships were sunk and another 67 were damaged by kamikazes, including the battleships USS Mississippi, New Mexico and Colorado (the latter hit by friendly fire), the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia, the light cruiser USS Columbia, and the destroyers USS Long and USS Hovey. On January 7th, the Hovey was struck almost simultaneously by an enemy aircraft and a torpedo. The plane hit her starboard beam and the torpedo hit her starboard aft engine-room. Lights and power were lost instantly. The stern remained nearly level as it sunk to the top of the aft deck house. The bow listed 40 degrees to starboard and rose up, out of the water, and the ship broke in half. Within two minutes the bow listed to 90 degrees, rose vertically and began to sink, ultimately coming to rest 54 fathoms (99 m) below the surface. Twenty-four men serving on the Hovey were killed. Twenty-four more men who had been taken aboard the Hovey after the sinkings of the USS Long and the USS Brooks, also died. Survivors, including Gordon Engstrom, were rescued by the USS Chandler and later by the USS West Virginia. Following the losses, the Gulf became a supply depot for the duration of the war.
He joined the Navy on October 27, 1942, ten days after his 18th birthday and served on the USS Hovey, a minesweeper that was sunk in the Philippines on January 7, 1945 at the *Battle of Lingayen Gulf. For his family back in Iowa, long, frantic days ensued until they were ensured of his survival. Gordon continued to serve until January 8, 1946.
Soon after his return from the war, Gordon married his hometown sweetheart, Margie, on August 17, 1946. Together they raised three children, mostly in Elmhurst, Illinois. Their weeks revolved around Gordon's job as an engineer, school for the kids, and church. Gordie had a big garden out back and loved to grow things for Margie to cook. On cold winter evenings, he enjoyed fixing anything mechanical, and working on the elaborate diorama he'd build up in the attic for his train set.
Over the years after Gordie's parents and little sister moved to the Oregon coast in 1952, he and his own family traveled across country many times for long visits full of family talk, picnics on the beach, and agate hunts. And when he and Margie retired in 1988, they chose to make their new home in Gleneden Beach, Oregon, to be near his mom.
He died as a result of complications from an autoimmune disorder in Lincoln City on November 8, 1995, at the age of 71. Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered at sea. A memorial marker bearing his name is near the Depoe Bay Bridge, not far from the inlet to the harbor. Every day people stand near his marker, eating saltwater taffy and looking for whale spouts, not knowing what a fine man Gordon Engstrom was, or how much he meant to those who knew him.
*Allied troupes successfully drove out the Japanese forces stationed in the Lingayen Gulf, but they suffered heavy losses. Over a period of eight long days in January, 1945, 24 ships were sunk and another 67 were damaged by kamikazes, including the battleships USS Mississippi, New Mexico and Colorado (the latter hit by friendly fire), the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia, the light cruiser USS Columbia, and the destroyers USS Long and USS Hovey. On January 7th, the Hovey was struck almost simultaneously by an enemy aircraft and a torpedo. The plane hit her starboard beam and the torpedo hit her starboard aft engine-room. Lights and power were lost instantly. The stern remained nearly level as it sunk to the top of the aft deck house. The bow listed 40 degrees to starboard and rose up, out of the water, and the ship broke in half. Within two minutes the bow listed to 90 degrees, rose vertically and began to sink, ultimately coming to rest 54 fathoms (99 m) below the surface. Twenty-four men serving on the Hovey were killed. Twenty-four more men who had been taken aboard the Hovey after the sinkings of the USS Long and the USS Brooks, also died. Survivors, including Gordon Engstrom, were rescued by the USS Chandler and later by the USS West Virginia. Following the losses, the Gulf became a supply depot for the duration of the war.
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