*Despite the date of 'Aug. 31, 1943' on the grave marker at the Barrancas National Robert Burns was killed on August 30, 1942 in the sinking of the U.S.S. Colhoun APD-2. His body was never recovered. His rank on the ship was a Machinist Mate, second class. Robert-Burns left behind his wife Phyllis and daughter Joyce Hardy (Brenden).
This description of the sinking is from the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships"
"At 1400 on 30 August 1942, while Colhoun was on patrol off Guadalcanal, she was struck in a Japanese air raid. The first hits wrecked the ship's boats and the after davits, and started a diesel fire from the boat wreckage. In a second attack, a succession of hits on the starboard side brought down the foremast, blew two 20 mm guns and one 4" gun off the ship, and damaged the engineering spaces. Two more direct hits killed all the men in the after deck house. Tank lighters from Guadalcanal rescued the crew, and Colhoun sank in 09‹24ŒS 160‹01ŒE / 9.4‹S 160.017‹E / -9.4; 160.017. Fifty-one men were killed and 18 wounded in this action."
This description of the sinking is from the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships"
"At 1400 on 30 August 1942, while Colhoun was on patrol off Guadalcanal, she was struck in a Japanese air raid. The first hits wrecked the ship's boats and the after davits, and started a diesel fire from the boat wreckage. In a second attack, a succession of hits on the starboard side brought down the foremast, blew two 20 mm guns and one 4" gun off the ship, and damaged the engineering spaces. Two more direct hits killed all the men in the after deck house. Tank lighters from Guadalcanal rescued the crew, and Colhoun sank in 09‹24ŒS 160‹01ŒE / 9.4‹S 160.017‹E / -9.4; 160.017. Fifty-one men were killed and 18 wounded in this action."
*Despite the date of 'Aug. 31, 1943' on the grave marker at the Barrancas National Robert Burns was killed on August 30, 1942 in the sinking of the U.S.S. Colhoun APD-2. His body was never recovered. His rank on the ship was a Machinist Mate, second class. Robert-Burns left behind his wife Phyllis and daughter Joyce Hardy (Brenden).
This description of the sinking is from the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships"
"At 1400 on 30 August 1942, while Colhoun was on patrol off Guadalcanal, she was struck in a Japanese air raid. The first hits wrecked the ship's boats and the after davits, and started a diesel fire from the boat wreckage. In a second attack, a succession of hits on the starboard side brought down the foremast, blew two 20 mm guns and one 4" gun off the ship, and damaged the engineering spaces. Two more direct hits killed all the men in the after deck house. Tank lighters from Guadalcanal rescued the crew, and Colhoun sank in 09‹24ŒS 160‹01ŒE / 9.4‹S 160.017‹E / -9.4; 160.017. Fifty-one men were killed and 18 wounded in this action."
This description of the sinking is from the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships"
"At 1400 on 30 August 1942, while Colhoun was on patrol off Guadalcanal, she was struck in a Japanese air raid. The first hits wrecked the ship's boats and the after davits, and started a diesel fire from the boat wreckage. In a second attack, a succession of hits on the starboard side brought down the foremast, blew two 20 mm guns and one 4" gun off the ship, and damaged the engineering spaces. Two more direct hits killed all the men in the after deck house. Tank lighters from Guadalcanal rescued the crew, and Colhoun sank in 09‹24ŒS 160‹01ŒE / 9.4‹S 160.017‹E / -9.4; 160.017. Fifty-one men were killed and 18 wounded in this action."
Gravesite Details
Robert Burns joined the U.S. Navy in Pensacola, Florida.
Family Members
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