Casualties brought back to the States by the USS Honda Knot: a Virtual Cemetery

See all by Rose Wenstrom

A Virtual Cemetery created by Rose Wenstrom

Casualties brought back to the States by the USS Honda Knot

Billings Gazette, October 11, 1947, Front Page"The first American World War II Dead, taken from military graves on battle-torn Pacific Isles came home Friday.The dirge-like booming of a distant cannon echoed over San Francisco's hills as the transport Honda Knot slipped quietly through the "Golden Gate" shortly after noon and came to anchor off the north shore. In her hold were more than 3000 brown steel caskets, bearing the bodies of fighting men, mostly those that were the first to die at Pearl Harbor.The Honda Knot's arrival marked the tangible beginning of the Army's "Operation Taps", the vast re-burial program under which more than 250,000 known war dead will be returned to Home soil from overseas graves in the Pacific and in Europe.The European phase of the operation gets underway on October 26 when an identical transport arrives in New York harbor, bringing the first bodies from the United States military cemetery, Henri Chapelle, Belgium.The great gray transport dropped anchor and paused for a time off San Francisco's Marina green where the city's bereaved were gathered to pay a simple, heartfelt tribute to the vessel's silent passengers.A national memorial service will be led by Mayor Roger Lepham, aided by civic, religious, veterans and military leaders, including Secretary of Navy John L. Sullivan and General Mark Clark, Sixth Army commandant. The religious service will be conducted jointly by the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish churches. They will be represented by the Rev. Hughbert H. Landrum, Archbishop John J. Mitty, and Rabbi Morris Goldstein.From the shoreside service, the Honda Knot will proceed to the San Francisco port of embarkation dock at Ft. Mason, Oakland, where the first of the caskets will be unloaded.MONTANANS LISTED – Washington, Oct. 10-The bodies of 16 Montanans were among those brought from the Pacific aboard the Honda Knot Friday. The dead (with next of kin) are:Water Tender Second Class Merlin H. Allen, Mrs. Betty E. Allen, Rte 3, Billings.Marine Private First Class Thomas R. Conover, Mrs. Charles Conover, Broadview.First Lieutenant Roy B. Delemater, Jr, Roy B. Delemater, Roundup.Seaman First Class Clifford Geach, Jr, Jack Geach, Butte.Marine Private First Class Clifford Holt, Jens Holt, Dutton.Private First Class Edward G. Kuntz, Gottfried Kuntz, Harlem.Marine Private First Class John E. Lambert, Jr, Mrs. Angeline L. Iron Bear, Poplar.Navy Lieutenant Harold A. Lewis, Mrs. William A. Lewis, Lavina.Seaman Third Class Robert B. MacDonald, Roderick B. MacDonald, Choteau.Flight Officer Rex W. McIntyre, Don J. McIntyre, Glendive.Marine Sergeant Henry H. Morton, USMC, William R. Morton, Havre.Marine Corporal Don E. Reifle, Mrs. Nettie B. Reifle, Malta.Coxswain Emil O. Ronning, Mrs. Emilie Simmons, Fort Benton.Private First Class Frank L. Simmons, Frank N. Simmons, Glasgow.Captain Clarence E. Southard, Ernest W. Southard, Fairfield.First Lieutenant Warner C. Van Voast, Mrs. Jess E. Van Voast, Turner.EIGHT FROM WYOMINGThe bodies of seven will be sent to the Utah distribution depot at Ogden before being taken to cities designated by relatives. Their identity and next of kin are:Calvert C. Allred, Marine corporal, Gilbert B. Allred, Afton.Robert E. Bever, Army Staff Sergeant, Ora E. Bever, Powell.Raymond D. Lofing, Navy Seaman Second Class, Henry Lofing, Wheatland.Ernest W. Robbins, Navy electrician mate third class, Ernest Robbins, Torrington.Lloyd B. Roberts, Marine Private First Class, Mrs. Leona Roberts, Lusk.Ralph G. Roll, marine sargeant, Mrs. Zula M. Rasmussen. Lance Creek.Oren D. Septer, marine sergeant, Dean D. Septer, Douglas.The body of Archie P. Claypool, Navy seaman first class, Mrs. Mary A. Claypool, Kaycee, will be sent to the Oakland, California Army base distribution center."

Billings Gazette, October 11, 1947, Front Page"The first American World War II Dead, taken from military graves on battle-torn Pacific Isles came home Friday.The dirge-like booming of a distant cannon echoed over San Francisco's hills as the transport Honda Knot slipped quietly through the "Golden Gate" shortly after noon and came to anchor off the north shore.  In her hold were more than 3000 brown steel caskets, bearing the bodies of fighting men, mostly those that were the first to die at Pearl Harbor.The Honda Knot's arrival marked the tangible beginning of the Army's "Operation Taps", the vast re-burial program under which more than 250,000 known war dead will be returned to Home soil from overseas graves in the Pacific and in Europe.The European phase of the operation gets underway on October 26 when an identical transport arrives in New York harbor, bringing the first bodies from the United States military cemetery, Henri Chapelle, Belgium.The great gray transport dropped anchor and paused for a time off San Francisco's Marina green where the city's bereaved were gathered to pay a simple, heartfelt tribute to the vessel's silent passengers.A national memorial service will be led by Mayor Roger Lepham, aided by civic, religious, veterans and military leaders, including Secretary of Navy John L. Sullivan and General Mark Clark, Sixth Army commandant.  The religious service will be conducted jointly by the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish churches.  They will be represented by the Rev. Hughbert H. Landrum, Archbishop John J. Mitty, and Rabbi Morris Goldstein.From the shoreside service, the Honda Knot will proceed to the San Francisco port of embarkation dock at Ft. Mason, Oakland, where the first of the caskets will be unloaded.MONTANANS LISTED – Washington, Oct. 10-The bodies of 16 Montanans were among those brought from the Pacific aboard the Honda Knot Friday.  The dead (with next of kin) are:Water Tender Second Class Merlin H. Allen, Mrs. Betty E. Allen, Rte 3, Billings.Marine Private First Class Thomas R. Conover, Mrs. Charles Conover, Broadview.First Lieutenant Roy B. Delemater, Jr, Roy B. Delemater, Roundup.Seaman First Class Clifford Geach, Jr, Jack Geach, Butte.Marine Private First Class Clifford Holt, Jens Holt, Dutton.Private First Class Edward G. Kuntz, Gottfried Kuntz, Harlem.Marine Private First Class John E. Lambert, Jr, Mrs. Angeline L. Iron Bear, Poplar.Navy Lieutenant Harold A. Lewis, Mrs. William A. Lewis, Lavina.Seaman Third Class Robert B. MacDonald, Roderick B. MacDonald, Choteau.Flight Officer Rex W. McIntyre, Don J. McIntyre, Glendive.Marine Sergeant Henry H. Morton, USMC, William R. Morton, Havre.Marine Corporal Don E. Reifle, Mrs. Nettie B. Reifle, Malta.Coxswain Emil O. Ronning, Mrs. Emilie Simmons, Fort Benton.Private First Class Frank L. Simmons, Frank N. Simmons, Glasgow.Captain Clarence E. Southard, Ernest W. Southard, Fairfield.First Lieutenant Warner C. Van Voast, Mrs. Jess E. Van Voast, Turner.EIGHT FROM WYOMINGThe bodies of seven will be sent to the Utah distribution depot at Ogden before being taken to cities designated by relatives.  Their identity and next of kin are:Calvert C. Allred, Marine corporal, Gilbert B. Allred, Afton.Robert E. Bever, Army Staff Sergeant, Ora E. Bever, Powell.Raymond D. Lofing, Navy Seaman Second Class, Henry Lofing, Wheatland.Ernest W. Robbins, Navy electrician mate third class, Ernest Robbins, Torrington.Lloyd B. Roberts, Marine Private First Class, Mrs. Leona Roberts, Lusk.Ralph G. Roll, marine sargeant, Mrs. Zula M. Rasmussen. Lance Creek.Oren D. Septer, marine sergeant, Dean D. Septer, Douglas.The body of Archie P. Claypool, Navy seaman first class, Mrs. Mary A. Claypool, Kaycee, will be sent to the Oakland, California Army base distribution center."