0811gysgt Posted January 1, 2015 Share #1 Posted January 1, 2015 Seaman 2nd Class Edward Otto Linke was KIA 2/19/1945 on D-day for the landing of the Iwo Jima invasion. I am not sure what ship he served on, but I know that several US ships were attacked by Kamikaze's off the coast of Iwo Jima during the following days of the invasion. The escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea was sank during a Kamikaze attack on 21 February 1945. The Purple Heart is a phase II Navy contract with the full wrap brooch and came in the "short titled" case. The Navy Commendation Medal is a mystery to me, but it came with the group, which I purchased from the neighbor of the Veteran's family. The Navy Commendation Medal (early slot brooch) came in the standard 1950'2 clear padded case and was complete with the ribbon bar, lapel button, and combat "V" device. If anyone can tell me what ship Seaman 2C Linke served aboard, I would appreciate that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
355fg Posted January 1, 2015 Share #2 Posted January 1, 2015 He was on the USS Highlands (APA-119), an attack transport ship. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 1, 2015 Share #3 Posted January 1, 2015 Being that he was lost on 02/19, it's quite possible he was a LCI or assault boat crewman during the landings on the first day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 1, 2015 Share #4 Posted January 1, 2015 there ya go.......an APA delivering the Marines to the beaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted January 1, 2015 Share #5 Posted January 1, 2015 Here is the USS Highland muster roll with Linke listed. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted January 2, 2015 Share #6 Posted January 2, 2015 Fort Sam Houston Nat. Cem. RIP W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0811gysgt Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted January 2, 2015 Gentlemen, That explains it and makes total sense that he was KIA on a landing assault craft. Thank You all for your input and I really appreciate you posting that roster Dick. That roster has his service number, which I did not have yet. I will have to request his record to see about the Navy Commendation RIbbon. Rocco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted January 2, 2015 Share #8 Posted January 2, 2015 His grave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 2, 2015 Share #9 Posted January 2, 2015 A seventeen year old Amphibious force sailor, not all that uncommon in WWII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US82Bravo Posted January 2, 2015 Share #10 Posted January 2, 2015 And here is some additional information - Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 2, 2015 Share #11 Posted January 2, 2015 Thanks Larry, USS HIGHLANDS (APA 119) LINKE, Edgar Otto S2c "Missing in Action, Invasion of Iwo Jima. Was member of Beach Party, last seen injured." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted January 2, 2015 Share #12 Posted January 2, 2015 Rocco, here is the muster list larger so it can be read easily and printed out. I can send you a hi-res if you would like one. If you click on the image it is much larger. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0811gysgt Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted January 3, 2015 Rocco, here is the muster list larger so it can be read easily and printed out. I can send you a hi-res if you would like one. If you click on the image it is much larger. Dick Thank You Dick, that larger one is much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF3CAPA193 Posted July 29, 2017 Share #14 Posted July 29, 2017 A couple weeks ago I was talking with my Dad about his time in the Pacific, and asked him a question which led me down this path and to a Google search which led me to this forum and thread. He mentioned a friend that he'd enlisted with in Houston, and went through basic training with. They had a little fun together while at basic, including filling their bed sheets with air and using them to ride the waves, and would have been shipmates but my father had to return to Texas for a family emergency. While there, his friends shipped out, and when he returned to California he was assigned to a different ship.the USS Sanborn, APA193. Dad was part of the beach party and went ashore with the 3rd wave on February 19 at Iwo Jima. His group suffered heavy casualties, and were taken back to the ship the next day. I don't know exactly when or how he learned that his friend had been killed that day on Iwo Jima. I've heard this story several times before, but never thought to ask what his friend's name was. At 91 years old his memory and hearing are fading fast, and when I asked him the young man's name I was stunned that he answered without any hesitation, "Edward Otto Linke". I was equally surprised that my internet search turned up this information. Thank you for all who've contributed to this thread. I'll be making a trip to Houston soon, and will pay my respects at his grave. I've been pretty wordy so I'll just add one more detail. Dad remembers his friend as a shy, quiet kid, like himself. I'll just add one more thing as I've been Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanormalTrooper Posted July 29, 2017 Share #15 Posted July 29, 2017 Wow, fantastic grouping and quite the follow up post I must say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 29, 2017 Share #16 Posted July 29, 2017 Hi Rocco Did you get his citation for the commendation medal? Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0811gysgt Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share #17 Posted July 29, 2017 No, this is still one of my many research projects. Thank You all for the recent contributions. As soon as I do receive his file, I will post my findings here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kekoehn1 Posted August 9, 2017 Share #18 Posted August 9, 2017 Hello gentlemen (I'm assuming). Just like the previous user said, I too was lead here by the name Edgar Linke but for a different reason. My name is Kate & my grandmother was Eleanor Marie Linke Koehn and Edgar was her brother. So Edgar Otto Linke was my great-uncle. SF3CAPA193, the story that you wrote has floored me and knowing there is someone out there who knew this man that I never knew is emotionally overwhelming. One of the last things my grandmother told me before her death in 1996 was to keep his flag safe and to never let him be forgotten. I have done the best I can over the last 20 years to uphold my end of the deal. I am truly speechless. Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted August 9, 2017 Share #19 Posted August 9, 2017 Thank you for posting your great uncles photograph Katie and also taking the time to find us. As our Forum header states, we are collectors preserving history, honoring veterans Aloha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kekoehn1 Posted August 10, 2017 Share #20 Posted August 10, 2017 Thank you for posting your great uncles photograph Katie and also taking the time to find us. As our Forum header states, we are collectors preserving history, honoring veterans Aloha I am so appreciative of that, Salvage Sailor. Thank you to all of you that put so much time, money and honor in the memorabilia you have. The funniest part of this is a couple years ago I ran across these medals on EBay and when I went to set a reserve bid, the auction had ended the day before. I messaged the guy that was selling them but to no avail, it wasn't meant to be. I'm not sure who the EBay guy is but I think I know who had them initially and to be completely transparent, he should never have had them because I knew he would sell them for the money but it is what it is. My great-aunt has told me what she remembers, she was 10 years younger than Uncle Edgar. My great grandfather Linke was in Germany during WWI and his unit was hit with nerve gas. When he came home, he spent months in a hospital in Alexandria, LA. From that point, he came home but was never seen without a cane. He was very proud of his service but when my uncle told him and my great grandmother that he wanted to enlist, great-grandfather said no. Somehow great-grandma told him that he was going to do it anyway so she took him down there and gave permission (he was 16). He served on the USS Highland & took part in assault landing operations at Iwo Jima in April of 1945. He was killed in this action on April 19, while engaged, day and night, in landing supplies, communication and the evacuation of casualties. My grandmother was very pregnant with my father at the time and after Dad was born, the stress from the birth and Edgar's death landed her in an institution for a long while. My great-grandmother never recovered because she believed it was her fault for signing him up. His body remained in Saipan until 1948 (I think) until he was brought home and buried in Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. I've attached another picture with another pic and his flag. I know that this forum is for collectors and that you guys want to know about the guys whose medals you have, maybe I have said too much. I'm a hospice nurse so I'm used to documenting EVERYTHING. I hope SF3CAPA193 comes back to this thread because I would REALLY like to talk to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF3CAPA193 Posted August 10, 2017 Share #21 Posted August 10, 2017 kekoehn1, What an incredible set of circumstances. I'm very excited to talk to Edgar's niece and Dad will be as well when I tell him tomorrow. I'll reach out to you via the email address you provided. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF3CAPA193 Posted February 19, 2020 Share #22 Posted February 19, 2020 I found a film on YouTube in which Jim Baize who was the only survivor of landing craft which was hit by the mortar killing Ed Linke. Mr. Baize is still alive and remembers Ed and mentions him a time or two in the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0811gysgt Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share #23 Posted February 19, 2020 That video was very moving. I am thankful to know more about Edward Linke’s story. Thank You for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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