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WCU - World War II in Southern Appalachia

Randall Jacobs to Steven J. Owens, May 12, 1942

  • wcu_ww2-693.jp2
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  • A Western Union telegram from Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation in the U.S. Navy to Steven J. Owens notifying the Owens family that his son, Samuel Owens is missing in action. Samuel Robert Owens (1918-1995) was stationed at Cavite Naval Yard in the Philippines when the United States entered World War II. He was a member of the crew of the submarine tender USS Canopus (AS-9), which was actively involved in the defense of the Bataan peninsula until the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942. The majority of the crew of USS Canopus, including Owens, were captured by the Japanese at Corregidor, and became prisoners of war. Owens remained a POW until the end of the war and received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for his service.
  • Class of Service This is a full-rate Telegram or Cablegram unless its deferred character is indicated by a suitable symbol above or preceding the address. WESTERN, 1220 * SYMBOLS ^ S* DL=D«y Utter NT - Overnight Telegram LC=DeferredCable NLT =CWe Night Letter VER ^ Ship Radiogram f The filing time shown in the date line on telegrams and day letters is STANDARD TIME at point of origin. Time . }L0NG QE77 123 G0VT=WASHINGTON DC 12 210P STEPHEN J OWENS* ••WEBSTER NCAR* -THE NAVY DEPARTMENT EXCEEDINGLY REGRETS TO ADVISE YOU THAT ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS OF THIS DEPARTMENT YOUR SON SAMEL ROBERT OWENS TORPEDOMAN SECOND CLASS USN WAS PERFORMING HIS DUTY IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY IN THE MANILA BAY AREA WHEN THAT STATION CAPITULATED X HE WILL BE CARRIED ON THE | RECORDS OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT AS MISSING PENDING FURTHER | INFORMATION X-NO REPORT OF HIS DEATH OR INJURY HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND HE MAY BE A PRISON OF WAR X IT WILL PROBABLY BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE DEFINITE OFFICIAL INFORMAT IONIAN BE EXPECTED CONCERNING HIS STATUS X SINCERE SYMPATHY IS EXTENDEr ) TO YOU IN YOUR ANXIETY AND YOU ARE ASSURED THAT ANY REPORT RECEIVED WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO YOU PROMPTLY X= *RE~AR ADMIRAL RANDALL JACOBS CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF NAVIGATION:, »X X X X Xse APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM ITS PATRONS CONCERNING ITS SERVICE

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World War II in Southern Appalachia

World War II affected the residents of WNC both home and abroad. This collection highlights some of these experiences, including Carr and Ruth Hooper who were interred at the Sant...

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wcu_ww2-693.jp2