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WCU - World War II in Southern Appalachia

Randall Jacobs to Walter Franklin George, June 25, 1942

  • wcu_ww2-683.jp2
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  • A letter from Randall Jacobs, Chief of Navy Personnel, to Senator Walter Franklin George in regards to Samuel Robert Owens' whereabouts and condition. 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.
  • In reply address not the signer of this letter, but Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. Refer to No. NAVY DEPARTMENT Pers-64-O-j^M ^ JUft g[- BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL WASHINGTON, D. C. % My dear Senator George: I desire to acknowledge receipt of your communication dated June 10, 1942, enclosing letter from ijs. Sd.vard Preetorius, of Box #1, Hunters, Georgia, written in the interest of her mother, who is anxious to obtain definite information as to the fate of Samuel Robert Owens, Torpedoman second class, U. S. Navy. Upon a review of the record of OVENS, it is noted that he was a member of the crew of the U.S.S. CANOPUS, which vessel was destroyed by the U.S. Forces to prevent its being of use to the enemy in event of capture of Bataan. However, he was undoubtedly transferred from that ship prior to its destruction, as he "was attached to the Submarine Base, Fort kills, Philippine Islands on February 17, 1942. A report from the Commandant Sixteenth Naval District, showed OVENS to be serving in the Manila Bay Area on March 20, 1942. This was the last report from that area and since the fall of Corregidor his fate is not known. On iaay 11, 1942, the Navy Department sent a despatch to 07i:.iiS father, Mr. Stephen J. Owens, of Webster North Carolina, which stated that O.EMS will be carried on the records of the Department as "missing", pending further information. No report of his death or injury has been received, and it may be that he is now a prisoner of war. Mrs. Ovjens great anxiety is appreciated and please be assured that any further report will be communicated directly to her. Sincerely yours, RANDALL JACOBS The y Hon. Walter F. George United States Senate

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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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