WWII Good Conduct Medals- KIA, Silver Star Winner, Submarine

[OD MAN]

Guys I just got this set of medals in northern Wisconsin during my trip this last week. Well I randomly did a search on Google of the name.

 

Look at what I found....

 

LINK:http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/engebretsen-e-m.htm

 

Edward Mitchell Engebretsen

 

Silver Star, Purple Heart

 

Chief Quartermaster

02997623

Born: August 4, 1916 Waupaca, Wisconsin

 

Submarine USS Bullhead (SS-332)

Loss Date: August 6, 1945

Location: West end of Lombok Strait

Circumstances: Sunk by air attack

Remarks: Edward was born in White Water, Wisconsin.

 

 

 

The medals:

 

 

 

 

May he rest in peace, in the deep blue.

 

Justin

[OD MAN]

Some history of the submarine. All men aboard died from the Japanese air attack in August 1945, just days before the Japanese surrender....

 

http://www.subvetpaul.com/USS-Bullhead-SS-332.htm

 

USS Bullhead (SS-332) - Ship's History

 

Researched by: Robert Loys Sminkey

 

Commander, United States Navy, Retired

 

USS Bullhead (SS-332), named for any large-headed fish, especially the catfish, miller's thumb, and sculpin, was constructed by the Electric Boat Company at Groton, Connecticut. Her keel was laid down on 21 October 1943. Mrs. Howard R. Doyle christened the submarine and she was launched on 16 July 1944. The Balao Class boat was commissioned on 4 December 1944 with Commander Walter T. Griffith in command.

 

When commissioned, the Fleet Type submarine displaced 1,526 tons on the surface when in diving trim and drew 16'10" of water when in that condition; displaced 2,391 tons when submerged; was 311'8" in length overall; had a beam of 27'3"; could make 20 1/4 knots on the surface and 8 3/4 knots submerged (for one hour); could dive safely to 400 feet; was manned by 6 officers and 60 enlisted men; and was armed with one 5-inch deck gun and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes (six in the bow and four in the stern). Twenty-four torpedoes were carried. The submarine could also carry and lay mines.

 

The Second World War operations of USS Bullhead extended from 21 March to August of 1945 during which time she completed two war patrols. Her area of operations included the Java and South China Seas and the Gulf of Siam.

 

USS Bullhead sank four enemy ships, totaling 1,800 tons, and damaged three ships, for 1,300 tons, during her first two war patrols.

 

Her first patrol was made in the South China Sea from the latter part of March to the end of April 1945. No enemy contacts were made, but, on 31 March, and again on 24 April, USS Bullhead bombarded Pratas Island with her 5-inch deck gun. She also rescued three airmen from a downed B-29 bomber following an air strike on the China coast.

 

In May and June of 1945, USS Bullhead patrolled the Gulf of Siam and the South China Sea during her second war patrol. There, she sank two small freighters, a schooner, and a submarine chaser...and damaged two more submarine chasers and another small freighter...all in gun actions on the surface.

 

Departing Fremantle, Australia, for her third war patrol, USS Bullhead, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Edward R. Holt, Junior, on 31 July 1945, started for her patrol area (from Longitude 110 Degrees East to Longitude 115 Degrees East...in the Java Sea). She was to leave her patrol area at dark on 5 September and head for Subic Bay in the Philippine Islands. USS Capitaine (SS-336) and USS Puffer (SS-268) were also to patrol in the Java Sea area, as were the British submarines HMS Taciturn and HMS Thorough.

 

USS Bullhead arrived in her assigned area on 6 August, but USS Capitaine did not arrive until 13 August. On 12 August, USS Capitaine ordered USS Bullhead to take position the following day in a scouting line with USS Capitaine and USS Puffer. There was no reply from USS Bullhead, and, on 15 August, USS Capitaine reported to headquarters:

 

"Have been unable to contact USS Bullhead by any means since arriving in area."

 

Since those submarines named above were in the same general area as USS Bullhead...and USS Cod (SS-224) and USS Chub (SS-329) passed through in transit at various times, it is difficult to point to one Japanese antisubmarine attack as the one which sank USS Bullhead. However, the most likely one occurred on 6 August 1945, when an enemy army plane attacked with depth charges in:

 

Position: Latitude: 8 Degrees 20' South Longitude: 115 Degrees 42' East.

 

The Japanese aircraft claimed two direct hits, and, for ten minutes thereafter, there was a great amount of gushing oil and air bubbles rising in the water. Since the position given is very near the Bali Island coast, it is presumed that the proximity of mountain peaks shortened USS Bullhead's radar range and prevented her from obtaining early warning of the approach of the airplane...which sank her.

 

USS BullHead (SS-332) received two battle stars for her service during the Second World War.

 

The following personnel were USS Bullhead's ship's company during that submarine's third war patrol...and all went with her on the last dive:

 

Alfred Aiple, Junior...Quartermaster Second Class

 

Harold A. Anderson...Yeoman Second Class

 

Robert H. Barringer...Seaman First Class

 

George L. Bell...Motor Machinist's Mate First Class

 

James D. Benner...Seaman First Class

 

Walter E. Bertram...Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class

 

Harold R. Bridgstock...Radio Technician Second Class

 

Ralph M. Brume...Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class

 

Kadzmir J. Buczek...Torpedoman's Mate Second Class

 

Richard B. Burns...Chief Torpedoman's Mate

 

Ray W. Church...Motor Machinist's Mate First Class

 

James F. Collins...Electrician's Mate Third Class

 

Howard E. Crandall...Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class

 

Elmer M. Dahl...Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class

 

Glen M. Davidson...Fireman First Class

 

Jerry K. Davidson...Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class

 

Charles J. Day...Electrician's Mate Second Class

 

Charles W. Dougherty...Ship's Cook First Class

 

Edward M. Engebretsen...Chief Quartermaster

 

James R. Fahey...Radioman Third Class

 

Ralph G. Foster...Fireman First Class

 

Kenneth E. Foust...Quartermaster Third Class

 

Fred C. Fritz...Radioman Second Class

 

Charles W. Gay...Electrician's Mate Third Class

 

Joseph P. Gilheany, Junior...Radioman Third Class

 

Paul A. Gossett...Lieutenant Junior grade

 

Clyde M. Graves...Seaman First Class

 

William F. Greaves...Electrician's Mate Third Class

 

Hubert B. Hackett...Signalman Second Class

 

E. D. Hackman, Junior...Lieutenant

 

John L. Hancock...Gunner's Mate Second Class

 

John J. Harris...Quartermaster Third Class

 

William P. Hawkins...Boatswain's Mate Second Class

 

George V. Heaton...Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class

 

Thomas P. Helferich...Chief Motor Machinist's Mate

 

Donald O. Hendrikson...Lieutenant Junior Grade

 

Edward R. Holt, Junior...Lieutenant Commander...Commanding

 

LaVerne W. Huisman...Seaman First Class

 

William Ireland...Torpedoman's Mate Second Class

 

Lester L. Jenkins...Electrician's Mate Second Class

 

James R. Jensen...Electrician's Mate Third Class

 

Fred J. Jewell...Quartermaster Second Class

 

Percy Johnson, Junior...Signalman First Class

 

Joseph W. Jones...Chief Electrician's Mate

 

Richard A. Keister...Radio Technician Third Class

 

Jacob J. Kopf...Electrician's Mate Third Class

 

W. A. Kulczycki...Ensign

 

Oscar V. Nassas...Torpedoman's Mate Second Class

 

Roy K. Marin...Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class

 

Jack P. Markham...Torpedoman's Mate Third Class

 

Harry A. McDermott...Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class

 

George P. Morgan...Torpedoman's Mate Third Class

 

Paul W. Olson...Fireman First Class

 

Paul F. Overbeek...Seaman First Class

 

Richard W. Palmer...Fireman First Class

 

William J. Parks...Gunner's Mate First Class

 

Joseph J. Parpal...Lieutenant Junior Grade

 

Robert M. Pattengale...Torpedoman's Mate Third Class

 

Robert S. Patterson...Sonarman Second Class

 

William M. Peart...Electrician's Mate First Class

 

Robert J. Perry...Motor Machinist's Mate First Class

 

Keith R. Phillips...Lieutenant...Executive Officer

 

Carl W. Piatt...Ship's Cook Third Class

 

Richard A. Pinder...Chief Motor Machinist's Mate

 

William J. Ralston, Junior...Torpedoman's Mate Third Class

 

Robert J. Ritchie...Electrician's Mate Third Class

 

John A. Roberts...Electrician's Mate First Class

 

Jesse Sandoval...Seaman First Class

 

Lee A. Schlegel...Fireman First Class

 

Orville G. H. Schmidt...Fireman First Class

 

William F. Short...Torpedoman's Mate First Class

 

Bert Shuey, Junior...Ship's Cook Third Class

 

Dale M. Siefken...Fire Controlman Second Class

 

Jack Simms, II...Lieutenant Junior Grade

 

Edward M. Smida...Pharmacist's Mate First Class

 

Carl J. Smith...Chief Radioman

 

William M. Smith...Chief Electrician's Mate

 

Frank T. Stifter...Radio Technician Second Class

 

Raymond W. Strassle...Lieutenant Junior Grade

 

Charles H. Taylor...Seaman First Class

 

Melvin Tobias...Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class

 

Andrew T. ...Chief Motor Machinist's Mate

 

Lyle L. Webb...Seaman First Class

 

Elmer J. Wiersma...Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class

 

9 Officers

 

75 Enlisted Men

 

---------------

 

84 Total...Lost in USS Bullhead (SS-332)

 

---end---

[Jack's Son]

I'm sure you will be hearing from the person who has the SS/PH soon.

The GCM without the date was issued after his death, as is customary (without a date.)

[OD MAN]

I'm sure you will be hearing from the person who has the SS/PH soon.

The GCM without the date was issued after his death, as is customary (without a date.)

 

 

Do you know the owner? If so I would like to contact him/her.

 

 

 

Justin

[KASTAUFFER]

The "undated" good conduct medal is a classic example of a posthumous award to a sailor who was MIA at the time it was issued. The sailor was considered in " active service " the entire time he was MIA until the finding of death date. If that date happened after the time he would have been awarded a GCM, an undated one was issued. You only see these in cases where the sailor was MIA.

 

I would be talking quickly to whoever you got these from about where the other medals are!!!!

 

Kurt

[OD MAN]

The "undated" good conduct medal is a classic example of a posthumous award to a sailor who was MIA at the time it was issued.

 

I would be talking quickly to whoever you got these from about where the other medals are!!!!

 

Kurt

 

 

 

 

Hi Kurt, I looked through every square inch of that whole antique store, believe me. I have the antique stores website and will send here an e-mail.

 

 

 

Justin

[Jack's Son]

I got caught-up in things......nice acquisition! :thumbsup:

[OD MAN]

I got caught-up in things......nice acquisition! :thumbsup:

 

 

 

Thank you. It is very humbling to own.

 

 

Justin

[OD MAN]

The USS Bullhead was the last Navy ship sunk during WWII.

 

 

 

 

[OD MAN]

 

:salute:

 

[Dave]

Wow! Awesome set! Keep an eye out for his uniforms too!!! :thumbsup:

[OD MAN]

Wow! Awesome set! Keep an eye out for his uniforms too!!! :thumbsup:

 

 

Thank you Dave. I will have to wait for a reply from the antique store.

 

 

 

 

Justin

[jmar]

Justin,

 

Outstanding group and support material! :thumbsup:

 

I know you that you must be quite proud to be the caretaker of this honored vet's legacy. I wish you the best of luck on your continued research and your quest to reunite the rest of his awards.

 

Thank you very much for sharing!

 

Joe

[Teamski]

Wow is all I can say. That is an awesome haul!!

 

-Ski

[OD MAN]

Thank you Joe and Ski.

 

 

I spent a little time and made a small display. The medals are kept in place by the force of the glass and backing. I did not attach anything to them as I do not want to do any harm.

 

 

Let me know how it looks.

 

Justin

 

[jmar]

Thank you Joe and Ski.

 

 

I spent a little time and made a small display. The medals are kept in place by the force of the glass and backing. I did not attach anything to them as I do not want to do any harm.

Let me know how it looks.

 

Justin

 

 

Justin, I think it is a wonderful homage to an American who died so we can enjoy our freedom. Again I thank you for showing us this wonderful group!

 

Joe

[Josh B.]

Just wanted to throw in another comment- a really outstanding, and sobering, piece of history. I'm glad they've been kept together by someone who knows their significance. Well done.

[OD MAN]

He was lost 66 years ago to this day.

 

 

 

Justin

[OD MAN]

To the top.

 

 

 

Justin

[KASTAUFFER]

I know who has the rest of the medals and the paperwork. Feel free to contact me if you would like to make contact with him,

 

Kurt