The First To Die In World War II

Battle of the Atlantic

The first members of the United States military killed by enemy action in World War II was not at Pearl Harbor but in the Battle of the Atlantic (September 1, 1939 – May 7, 1945). The United States Navy by late April 1941 escorted convoys in the North Atlantic that carried vast quantities of food and war materials under the “cash and carry” provision of the 1941 Lend-Lease Act to Great Britain.  These convoys provided a crucial lifeline for Great Britain.  However, German Navy U-boats prowled the waters of the North Atlantic hunting for convoys and ships to sink to cut-off the lifeline. On September 4, 1941, a German U-boat dared to attack the U.S. Navy Greer (Destroyer No. 145) carrying mail and passengers to the new American base at Argentia, Newfoundland.  The attack on the Greer was clearly a neutrality violation.

President Roosevelt on the evening of September 11, 1941, from the White House gave a fire side chat on the Freedom of the Seas.  The audio of this speech is at   www.fdrlibrary.org/utterancesfdr He announced to the American people the attack on the U.S. Naval destroyer Greer on September 4th, by a German submarine and chronicled the attacks to date by the Nazis on American merchant vessels.  He warned the Germans and Italians that Americans would defend themselves.  The U.S. Navy was ready to carry out this “shoot on sight” order for any vessel threatening American shipping or ships under Navy escort.

U.S.S. Kearny (DD-432)

The German submarine U-568 fired a spread of three torpedoes at the U.S.S. Kearny (DD-432) and the middle torpedo struck at about 0010 hours on October 17, 1941.  The following eleven members of the U.S. Navy became the first to die by enemy action in World War II.

Fireman First Class George Alexander Calvert

Ship’s Cook First Class Floyd Andrew Camp

Water Tender First Class Luther Asle Curtis

Water Tender Second Class Louis Dobnikar

Water Tender First Class Herman August Charles Gajeway

Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Lloyd Dalton Lafleur

Fireman First Class Sidney Gerald Larriviere

Seaman Second Class Dwight Floyd Pyle

Fireman First Class Iral William Stoltz

Fireman Third Class Russell Burdick Wade

Machinist Mate Second Class Harry Tull Young

Reuben James (DD-256)

The loss of the eleven sailors on the Kearny was soon overshadowed by the sinking of the Reuben James I (DD-245) on October 31, 1941, by a German submarine with a loss of seven officers and 94 enlisted men. The Reuben James was the first U.S. Navy ship sunk by enemy action during World War II.

Just weeks later the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and killed a total of 2,403 personnel: 2,008 Navy, 109 Marines, 218 Army and 68 civilians. The United States of America declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, on Germany and Italy on December 11, 1941, and entered World War II.