World War II
US NavyU.S.S. Boise (CL-47)
Service number:03721927
Born: September 12, 1922
Inducted: 1940
Died: October 12,1942 Solomon Islands
Memorial marker - Otis Cemetery
Memorial tablet -Manila American Cemetery
Purple Heart
| World War II US NavyU.S.S. Boise (CL-47) Service number:03721927 Born: September 12, 1922 Inducted: 1940 Died: October 12,1942 Solomon Islands Memorial marker - Otis Cemetery Memorial tablet -Manila American Cemetery Purple Heart |
Son of Steve and Anna Louise Rogers of Westminster (previouslyDeNova).
Manila American Cemetery
Tablets of theMissing
Photo by ABMC Manila AC Staff
November 12, 1942 - Akron News-Reporter
Former County Boy Killed in Action
Mrs. Ann Hawkinson Rogers received word last Thursday at her home nearWestminster that their son Marvel had been killed in action.
Marvel enlisted in the Navy about a year ago and was presumably somewhere inthe Pacific when he met his death.
No particulars were received and it is not known whether his ship was underfire or not.
Marvel was about 19 years old and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Rogers.He was born near DeNova but resided near Westminster when he enlisted.
Marvel was the nephew of F.W. Hawkinson of Akron and also a nephew ofLawrence Rogers of Akron.
He is survived by his father, mother and one brother.
A memorial service was held in the church at Westminster last Sunday andflowers were presented to the grief stricken mothers whose boys were killed inaction.
November 27, 1942 - Denver Post
ONE COLORADAN LISTED AMONG DEAD ONBOISE
Broomfield Youth is Slain; Denverite is WoundedThe disclosure that a Colorado sailor was killed in the heroic action of thecruiser U.S.S. Boise in the Solomons area last month tempered the joy ofparents of other crew members Saturday over an announcement that their sonssoon will be home on leave.
Marvel D. Rogers, 20, son of Mrs. Anna L. Rogers of Broomfield, was thesailor who lost his life, presumably on Oct. 11 or 12 when the Boise sank sixenemy warships in less than half an hour.
The navy department notified Mrs. Rogers of the death in a telegram but didnot disclose the date or the manner in which the sailor died.
Young Rogers, who had been in the navy two years and was a gunner lastvisited home last spring. He as born at DeNova in Washington county andattended school in Missouri and at Westminster, Colo.
Father is Patient in Veteran's Hospital
His father, Stephen E. Rogers, a world war veteran, is a patient at theveteran's hospital at Hot Springs, So. Dak. Other survivors are a brother,Virgil Rogers of Westminster, and three uncles, Carl Hawkinson of Westminster,S.W. Hawkinson of Akron and Lawrence Rogers of Otis.
The list of men from Colorado who served on board the Boise continued togrow Saturday. The vessel docked at the Philadelphia navy yard Thursday forrepairs of damaged caused in the battle.
Return of the cruiser, disclosed that Thomas H. Spillman, 20, seaman secondclass and the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Spillman of West Bayaud Avenue, was amember of the crew.
Battle Did Not Last Long
"The battle didn't last long enough," Spillman told his mother in atelephone conversation from Philadelphia at 4 a.m. Saturday. He said he camethru the engagement unscratched and he hoped to be home soon.
He enlisted in the navy here April 11, 1941, after leaving South highschool, where he was a guard on the 1941 football team.
Harry Floyd Thibault, 31, the oldest crew member who is know to everyone onthe ship as "Pops," telephoned his wife, Mrs. Phyllis Thibault of York street,that he was safe and sound. He was a floral designer before he enlisted lastMarch 17.
Burton Leisenring, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Leisenring of St. Paulstreet, told his parents by telephone, "We did a good job and we'll do it againif we have the chance." He was uncertain whether he would be given leave.
Boise Brought Solomons Survivor
The Boise also brought home a survivor of an American destroyer which wassunk in the Solomons sea battle.
This man was Gerald McCleary, 20, seaman first class and son of Mrs. T.G.Creagh of South High street. Altho wounded in the arm, ribs and foot in theengagement, he told his mother he is recovering and hopes to arrive within afew days on a thirty-day furlough.
He said he remained in the water about twelve hours in constant danger ofbeing attacked by sharks, before being rescued.
Notes:
1. Denver Post clipping provided by Terry Lasky.
2. Official Chronology of the US Navy in WWII -
October 11, 1942....Battle of Cape Esperance commences shortly before midnight, however, as navalsurface force TG 64.2 (Rear Admiral Norman Scott) bars Goto's way (to HendersonField, Guadalcanal.) Heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA-25) and lightcruiser Boise (CL-47) are damaged, but combine to cripple Japanese heavycruiser Furutaka; destroyers Duncan (DD-485) and Farenholt(DD-491) are also damaged by Japanese gunfire, the latter possibly by friendlyfire from either Boise or Helena (CL-50). American cruiser anddestroyer gunfire sinks Japanese destroyer Fubuki (09°06'S,159°38'E) and damages heavy cruiser Aoba (Rear Admiral Goto iskilled on board his flagship) and destroyer Hatsuyuki.
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