SMOTHERS, William

 
 
 

14 Feb 1945

off Black Beach, Corregidor

 
 

 

 

 

   

My Dad, Len Nielsen, was a crewman aboard the YMS-48 when it was hit off Corregidor on Valentine's Day 1945. He was a Seaman First Class, Gunners Mate, and his job was loading the single forward 3 inch/ 48 rifle. His good friend Bill Smothers was also killed during this attack. Bill was the ship's cook, and his battle station was passing the 3 inch shells up from the ammo magazine next to the galley to the crew on deck. He was killed when a Japanese shell exploded in the galley. They had been sweeping the channel between Corregidor and Bataan Peninsula when they were shelled. Conrad Nielsen, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

http://wikimapia.org/15453254/Wreck-of-USS-YMS-48

   

 

   

 

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