World War II Chronicle: January 8, 1943
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A mother who learned her three sons were all killed in action has received a letter from President Roosevelt. Jack, Edward, and Charles Rogers were at their battle stations when an enemy torpedo blew the bow off of the cruiser USS New Orleans during the Battle of Tassafronga. The destroyer USS Rogers (DD-876) is named in their honor. A fourth brother, Hugh, was also aboard the ship but survived the attack…
On pages three and 33: Maj. Donald K. Yost of Marine Fighting Squadron 121 (VMF-121) has become an ace, splashing six Japanese planes between Dec. 23 and 24 last year. He earns the Silver Star for the feat, and another for leading a strike into the North Korean capital in 1951. VMF-121 is known as “Foss’s Flying Circus,” whose pilots have scored 72 aerial victories during their brief time in the Solomons. Squadron leader Capt. Joseph J. Foss has scored 23 so far, earning the Medal of Honor. 1st Lt. William P. Marontate just scored his 12th victory of the war, second only to Foss.*
VMF-121 Navy Cross recipients to date:
- Maj. Leonard K. Davis, five victories
- 2nd Lt. Cecil J. Doyle, lost on Nov. 8 and the destroyer escort USS Cecil J. Doyle (DE-368) is named in his honor.
- 1st Lt. Roger A. Haberman, seven
- 1st Lt. Gregory K. Loesch, 8.5
- 2nd Lt. Thomas H. Mann Jr., 10
- 2nd Lt. Joseph L. Narr, seven
On Nov. 11, 1942 five VMF-121 Wildcats were shot down during one sortie: two pilots made it back, but Narr, 2nd Lt. Roy M.A. Ruddell, and 2nd Lt. Robert F. Simpson were lost. Maj. William B. Freeman netted six kills over Guadalcanal and later earned a Bronze Star Medal for his work with Charles Lindbergh to improve the performance on the F4U Corsair…
George Fielding Eliot column on page 11… Sports page begins on page 18, which announces that St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Terry Moore is joining the Army Air Force. Stan Musial shifts from left field to right to take over for Enos Slaughter while Harry Walker takes over Moore’s spot in center. Johnny Hopp will play left field for the defending World Series champions… Washington Redskins Pro-Bowl tackle Bill Young is joining the Navy… The Chicago White Sox will have to walk two miles from their spring training headquarters to reach the ball field.
*: Marontate will score one more within the week but is lost on Jan. 15, 1943. He is posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 8 January 1943. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1943-01-08/ed-1/
