George Glen Adams

George Adams was born in Brookeville, Pennsylvania on 13 September 1917, to the Reverend Loyal and Martha Brown Adams.

George enlisted in the regular Marine Corps on 11 September 1940, from a recruiting station in Pittsburgh. He turned 23 two days later.

Prior to the war, Adams served in Cuba and with Company D, 7th Marines. He volunteered for parachute school and qualified at Camp Gillespie. He deployed overseas as a member of the 2nd Parachute Battalion in the fall of 1942. During his service in the Pacific he advanced in rank to corporal.

At the end of September 1943, Corporal Adams’ outfit (Company E, Second Battalion, First Marine Parachute Regiment) boarded the LST-448 at Guadalcanal for an overnight trip to Vella Lavella, where they would participate in the ongoing ground campaign.

On 1 October 1943, LST-448 approached Narowai Beach and grounded ashore to debark troops and cargo. At 0936, her guns opened fire on a Japanese dive bomber that suddenly appeared from out of the sun. In less than thirty seconds, three bombs struck the helpless ship causing serious damage and several casualties among the crew, particularly the New Zealand troops manning the guns.

The Paramarines suffered losses including 1Sgt. Theodore Garrett, PhM1c William Stovall killed in action and 1Lt. Frederick Logan wounded. Corporals George Adams and Frank J. Finnie were reported as missing. Neither of these two Marines was seen alive again, and both were declared dead on 2 October 1944.

News of the incident was delivered to Martha Adams at 1226 Buffalo Street, Franklin, Pennsylvania.

The remains of Corporal Frank James Finnie (273062) were identified in 1945 and reburied in Finscchafen Cemetery #5. Corporal Adams may be one of several individuals buried in this cemetery who has not yet been identified.

CENOTAPHS

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial