Story of Andres F. Mafnas, MA1c, USS Nevada

[tdogchristy90]

 

Andres F. Mafnas was born August 22, 1914 to Luis and Ana Mafnas of Agana, Guam. Having only completed the 4th Grade, Andres was a general laborer before deciding to join the Navy for the opportunity of an education and to travel. He enlisted for a six year term as a Mess Attendant on November 1, 1939 at U.S. Naval Station, Guam. From there he was transferred to U.S.S. R. L. Barnes for training.

 

 

By March 1940, Mafnas was transferred to the receiving ship at San Francisco, California for general detail. Finally, on March 14, 1940, Mafnas was received aboard the U.S.S. Nevada, the ship he would serve on as his duty station. Nevada’s home port was San Pedro, California, but due to Japanese aggression in the Pacific, she was transferred to her new home port of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in March 1941.

 

On the morning of December 7, 1941, as the Japanese began their attack on the Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, plunging the United States into World War Two, the USS Nevada was moored off Ford Island with the other Battleships. At about 8:00, just as the ship’s band was playing Morning Colors, the first Japanese planes were observed, sending the sailors aboard the Nevada to their general quarters, known as battle stations.

 

 

Antiaircraft gunners opened fire on torpedo bombers who approached Nevada, bringing down one. Another plane was able to get away its torpedo which struck the Nevada, and while torpedo blisters on the Battleship limited the damage, the age of the vessel meant joints leaked and flooding began in earnest. Damage control crews were able to counter flood the ship and keep her level. At about 8:30, a heavy bombing attack ensued as Nevada’s gunners kept up their unrelenting fire. Ten minutes later, 8:40, Nevada was able to gather steam and began moving within the harbor, attempting to get to open sea.

 

The movement of the USS Nevada only created a more attractive target for Japanese dive bombers who, about 9:50, struck her with six bombs igniting intense fires all around the ship. Leaking from the torpedo hit earlier in the morning, as well as the crippling fires caused by bombing and strafing runs of the Japanese planes, led to the decision to ground the ship near Hospital Point around 10:30 so she would not bottle up the harbor if she sank.

 

 

 

Andres F. Mafnas was at his battle station, an anti-aircraft battery, when he was struck in the head and killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Around 2,400 personnel were killed, including Mess Attendant First Class Andres F. Mafnas. He was 27 years old and is buried at the Agana Cemetery, Guam.

 

 

…

[CinamonToastCrunch]

I have not seen a posthumous US Navy Purple Heart engraving like this even with Pearl Harbor casualties. I've always seen quite fancy script engraved ones. Yet the engraving looks familiar with certain US Army Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts. So it looks like a 1940s government engraved medal. I wonder when it was issued. It has the very simple engraving style like late/postwar posthumous US Navy Air medals. It might have been issued after WW2 or it might be a reissue from the 1950s. Is the Purple Heart a wrap brooch or slot brooch?

[manayunkman]

The engraving is unusual for a Navy medal but looks period.

 

Ive seen USMC medals engraved this way.

 

Not being an expert I would love to know what more experienced members have to say.

[Wharfmaster]

I have a posthumous Navy Air Medal for Korea named in this style.

 

 

W

[tdogchristy90]

Hey guys. It’s a Full Wrap Brooch. Oddly enough his file had none of the usual documentation associated with the issuing of a Purple Heart. There is however a document issuing his WW2 Victory Medal which is dated 1947.

 

 

[29navy]

At the time of Pearl Harbor, the Navy did not issue Purple Hearts. It was an Army Medal.  It wasn't until December 1942 that it was authorized for the Navy.

[tdogchristy90]

23 minutes ago, 29navy said:

At the time of Pearl Harbor, the Navy did not issue Purple Hearts. It was an Army Medal.  It wasn't until December 1942 that it was authorized for the Navy.

Navy29, are you saying this is why there may be no Purple Heart documentation in his file?
 

I would also add to my comment above about the Victory Medal being issued in 1947. Guam was occupied until 1944 so it would make sense that his medals were issued to the family after the war.

[Allan H.]

Not that my opinion means anything, but here is what I think has occurred. Since Andres Mafnas' Next of Kin were located on Guam and Guam was occupied by the Japanese, the Navy did not have the ability to notify them of his death. Typically, the death notification would trigger the preparation of the appropriate medals, and then the subsequent forwarding of those awards to the NOK. The first document that you included in this thread is basically the Navy telling the family that their family member had died at Pearl, but they are also asking for confirmation of where his property (if any), his insurance money (to include death gratuity). and any other items (medals) could be sent. 

 

Virtually all of the posthumous Purple Hearts for Pearl Harbor were engraved on Type One Navy medals. MA1 Mafnas' medal is a Type Two since it has a full wrap brooch. I believe that no medal was prepared for Mafnas because there was no one for the Navy to send it to. It was only after the family was located after the US Forces retook Guam that his family could be notified of his death. After that notification, the medal was prepared for bestowal to his family. By late 1944, the engravers had moved on from Type One medals to Type Two Purple Hearts. I would assume that there would have been a transmittal letter that would have accompanied the Purple Heart when it was sent to his family.

 

As for the World War II Victory Medal, they were not minted until 1947, so that is in line with that transmittal letter. I would ASSUME that at least an American Defense and an Asiatic- Pacific Campaign medal would have also been sent. There is also a good chance that a USN Good Conduct and perhaps an American Campaign medal was also forwarded to the family at some point.

 

Thank you for sharing this beautiful medal and the history of a brave sailor who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

 

Allan

 

 

[29navy]

1 hour ago, tdogchristy90 said:

Navy29, are you saying this is why there may be no Purple Heart documentation in his file?
 

I would also add to my comment above about the Victory Medal being issued in 1947. Guam was occupied until 1944 so it would make sense that his medals were issued to the family after the war.

I think that would be a good assumption.  I like Allan's explanation above.

[tdogchristy90]

2 hours ago, 29navy said:

I think that would be a good assumption.  I like Allan's explanation above.

The transmittal letter was not in his file, would it be safe to assume it was sent directly the family and never in the file?