During the "BATTLE OFF SAMAR", Both the Commanding Officer, Commander Ernest E. Evans and the Executive Officer, Lieutenant Elton B. Stirling were lost.
Both men were in the water after the word was given to abandon ship but were not in the same group. The writer was in the same group in the water that the Executive Officer was in for the first 26 hours and during that period, the Executive Officer appeared to be well and in good control of himself.
1. Adams, Warren G. F1c 2. Adcock, Henry K. TM3c 3. Akey, Samuel J. Cox 4. Alamanza, Eulalio S2c 5. Andrada, Jack S2c 6. Andrill, Edward L. S2c 7. Arabie, Jasper S2c 8. Austin, Orion W. RM3c 9. Barber, Ursel MM2c 10. Bayich, Joseph J. S1c 11. Bayless, Merill J. WT1c 12. Bechdel, Jack Lt. (jg) USNR 13. Benjamin, Richard P.TM3c 14. Bergman, Reynold M. S1c 15. Boehm, Fred F. Cox 16. Borneman, Howard C. EM2c 17. Bowman, George M. GM2c 18. Boyer, Hubert F. Cox 19. Brodie, George S. EM2c 20. Brooks, Francis L. EM2c 21. Broom, Ralph E. S2c 22. Brown, Arthur D. S2c 23. Brown, Elbert L. S2c 24. Browne, Robert T, M.D.Lt. (jg)USNR 25. Bruce, Charles A. PhM1c 26. Buchanan, Roy E. RM3c 27. Burgess, William E. MM1c 28. Burnett, William G. RM3c 29. Butler, Justin J. SF1c 30. Cagle, Terry D. Rdm3c 31. Cannon, Abbrum H. Rdm3c 32. Cannon, Vance H. F1c 33. Carden, Clarence Cox 34. Carroll, Alvie R. S1c 35. Castro, Salvatore MM1c 36. Centola, Victor J. SK1c 37. Charles, Virgil W. F1c 38. Clark, Jerry L. QM3c 39. Clark, Kenneth P. R1c 40. Coleman, Donald A. GM3c 41. Conway, Jack T. QM3c 42. Cooper, James C. FC3c 43. Cote, Real J. F1c 44. Cowart, Leo S1c 45. Cramer, Robert C. QM2c 46. Cribbs, Ernest B. GM3c 47. Critz, Fielden W. WT3c 48. Dale, Fritz E. F2c 49. Delong, Ralph W. SC1c 50. Deutsch, Walter P. Lt. USNR 51. Dittrich, Charles J. S1c 52. Dixon, Joel H. S2c 53. Dobrowolsky, Edward E. S2c 54. Dotson, Joseph C. Rdm3c 55. Duke, Clarence C. S2c 56. Dykes, Dennis W., Jr.WT3c 57. Dzinbak, Richard P. S1c 58. Eaton, Iris W. S1c 59. Edminster, Earl E. ScM3c 60. Elliott, George L. S1c 61. Ellis, William N. WT3c 62. Evans, Ernest E. Cdr. 3885 USN 63. Farris, Harold D. S1c 64. Felix, Alfredo R. CK2c 65. Finley, Billy G. S1c 66. Fitzwater, Hurley WT2c 67. Fleming, George H. S1c 68. Fortney, Samuel O. SC3c 69. Fox, Gordon W. Ensign 70. George, Robert C. Rdm 3c 71. Gillis, Frank G. TM2c 72. Gillette, Leigh EM3c 73. Gosslin, Duane J. S1c 74. Gougeon, Roger P. MoMM2c 75. Grahek,Edward J. CK3c 76. Gray, James N. STM1c 77. Haltom, William E. GM2c 78. Hanke, Kenneth E. F1c 79. Harrison, Edward N. EM3c 80. Haskell, Charles O. F1c 81. Hattan, Joseph F. S2c 82. Haubrich, Edward U. Cox 83. Havanas, Geo. W., Sr. S2c 84. Helfer, Johnnie A. M1c 85. Heriford, Glenn E. S1c 86. Herr, Eugene L. RM3c 87. Hill, John E. SK1c 88. Hirshell, John E., Jr. S1c 89. Hodges, Grant M. WT1c 90. Hofmann, Walter N. FC1c 91. Holt, Clifford D. Rdm3c 92. Hongola, Stanley G. TM3c 93. Honnold, Harry E. F1c 94. Horne, Robert P. MM1c 95. Huber, Vernon K. Y3c 96. Huebscher, Otto F. MM3c 97. Jaeger, Harry A. F1c 98. Jiminez, Luis Bkr3c 99. Kawlec, Frank WT2c 100. Kelley, Robert C. TM2c 101. Killgard, Earl E. S1c 102. Kilpatrick, Charles Ensign USNR 103. Klemm, Philip M., Jr. S1c 104. Langford, Orbie WT3c 105. Lasure, Samuel A., Jr. WT3c 106. Litton, Verle J. GM2c 107. Legay, Percy H., Jr. MM1c 108. Lewis, George T. III EM1c 109. Libby, Luther R. CMM 110. Little, Harlan A. Rdm2c 111. Lucero, Lee J. F1c 112. Massari, Joseph F. GM2c 113. Merritt, John A. Ens. USN 114. Mirsky, Solomon Rdm3c 115. Moran, John R. TM1c 116. Moran, Lewis R. WT1c 117. Neubrand, Stanley L. Rdm3c 118. Nodell, Leonard M. MM3c 119. Olsen, Elmer B. Rdm3c 120. Page, Gilbert Rdm3c 121. Parks, Archie P. RM1c 122. Peden, William N. MM3c 123. Pendro, Joseph SK3c 124. Perkins, Thomas E. FC3c 125. Pettinato, Joe Bkr2c 126. Pickett, George R. F1c 127. Pliska, Joseph * Lt.(jg) 227964 USNR 128. Polk, Marley O. Machinist 129. Pompei, David A. SF1c 130. Rash, Oscar S. CWT 131. Ratliff, William T. S2c 132. Reed, Thomas E. MM2c 133. Reisinger, Joseph W. MM2c 134. Rilley, William F. WT3c 135. Ricks, Melvin C. M1c 136. Robinson, Victor D. RM3c 137. Robinson, William A. STM1c 138. Robles, Joseph R. MM1c 139. Rock, Joseph M. SK3c 140. Sandberg, Stanley B. Lt. (jg) USNR 141. Sauvola, Roy H. F1c 142. Savage, Gilbert STM1c 143. Scafoglio, Vincent S.WT3c 144. Sheeley, John M. F1c 145. Simmons, Paul H. WT2c 146. Short, Keith L. S1c 147. Smoyer, Ralph E. GM2c 148. Snyder, Royal Lt. (jg) USNR 149. Sorenson, James F. EM3c 150. Sperring, Charles E. WT2c 151. Stambaugh, Archie F. F2c 152. Stangl, Reinhart J. F1c 153. Steburg, Frank A. CMM 154. Sternberg, Reinhart H. MM3c 155. Stirling, Elton B. Lt.7857 156. Taylor, James B. FC1c 157. Taramino, Joe L. S1c 158. Tessendorf, Sheldon E. F2c 159. Thompson, Carleton T. FC1c 160. Tolman, Milton A. F1c 161. Towle, Russell Cox 162. Trottman, Warren E., Jr.MM2c 163. Trudel, Fredrick C. MM2c 164. Tuttle, Stephen M. MM2c 165. Underbakke, Bevis A. RaM3c 166. Urbanski, Elmer L. MM2c 167. Virden, Calvin C. F2c 168. Walker, Jack D. BM2c 169. Walker, Leo D. S1c 170. Watt, Robert N. F1c 171. Weaver, Albert A. S1c 172. Weeks, Chester S. WT2c 173. Weddle, Henry F. MM2c 174. Weigand, Walter R. SoM1c 175. Weiler, Valentine FC2c 176. West, Phillip L. F1c 177. White, Walter E. F1c 178. Wiant, Thomas S. MM2c 179. Willard, Glen R. S1c 180. Williams, William K. RM3c 181. Wilson, Henry M. Lt.(jg) USNR 182. Worling, Joseph Lt. USNR 183. Wright, James E. STM1c
* Squadron Recognition Officer reported on board for temporary duty, September 3, 1944.
