 |
NAME Jack Loren Kempe |
NICKNAME — |
SERVICE NUMBER 313840 |
|
| UNIT Marine Detachment USS Helena |
HOME OF RECORD St. John’s, AZ |
NEXT OF KIN Father, Mr. Otto J. Kempe |
||
| DATE OF BIRTH April 28, 1922 at Holtville, CA |
ENTERED SERVICE June 13, 1941 at Los Angeles, CA |
DATE OF LOSS July 6, 1943 |
||
| REGION Solomon Islands |
CAMPAIGN / AREA New Georgia / Kula Gulf |
CASUALTY TYPE Missing In Action Declared Dead July 7, 1945 |
||
|
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS In the early morning hours of 6 July 1943, an American naval squadron including Helena engaged a group of Japanese destroyers attempting to land reinforcements on New Georgia. In the ensuing Battle of Kula Gulf, Helena was struck by three torpedoes and suffered fatal damage. When the order to abandon ship was given, Major Bernard Kelly assembled his Marine detachment, accounted for all hands, and led them over the side. Survivors of the Helena spent anywhere from a few hours to several days at sea or stranded in the Solomon Islands before rescue. Although he was known to have escaped the sinking cruiser, PFC Kempe was never returned to military control. He was eventually declared dead on 7 July 1945, his ultimate fate unknown. |
||||
| INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS Purple Heart |
LAST KNOWN RANK Private First Class |
STATUS OF REMAINS Presumed lost at sea. |
MEMORIALS Manila American Cemetery |
|
Biography:
Contact the webmaster for more information about this Marine.
Gallery:
