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Topic: Ensign Leon Edgar Todd, Jr |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2017 - 3:31pm
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All;
Lumbari Island PT Base was called “Todd City”, and was named for RON 9 Ensign Leon Edgar Todd, Jr. USNR, MIA / KIA July 2, 1943, Service Number O-161871 Pennsauken/Medford, NJ.
He was the first PT Man killed at this base. Very little is written about him and his name is not in At Close Quarters in Appendix D and he is also not listed in Knights of the Sea. Does anyone know what boat in RON 9 he was on? Was he killed in a bombing raid?
Take care,
TED
P.S. this was also in an August 2016 thread, but has anyone found anything on his assignments?
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?fid=102&cid=101&tid=4126&st=20&nd=30&pg=1&sc=20
Ensign Todd is also mentioned on LT. John McElroy's (CO PT 161 RON 9) biographical website: https://evanskaren.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/a-fathers-service-pt-161/
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29navy
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2017 - 6:05pm
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This is from a publication called "The Shield of Kappa Kappa Psi, January 1944. But he was also listed in the Nov 1943 edition as being listed as missing in action.
Ens. Leon Edgar (Ed) Todd Jr., Pa. Epsilon "39, president of the chapter his senior year and an outstanding leader on campus at Gettysburg College, was killed in action July 2, 1943, while engaged in amphibious operations in the successful invasion of Rendova Island, New Guinea. He was the son of [Mayor and Mrs. Leon E. Todd of [Medford Lakes, N. J).
They with two brothers, Harrison Lewis Todd, Fa. Epsilon '36, and Jack Todd, survive. 'Tell his dad that he died heroically as a proud father would have him, in the successful occupation of an enemy advanced base,'' officers associated with Ens. Todd went on record in paying tribute to their gallant comrade.
Ens. Todd was reported missing early in August. About ten days later, Mayor Todd was informed that his son was 'believed to have died of wounds and had been buried at sea." Official notice of his death was received from the Navy, October 21st. Leon Edgar Todd Jr. was born June 30, 1920, at Ocean City, N. J. He attended Moorestown Friends School, and was a member in 1938 of the first graduating class of the Rancocas Valley Regional high school in Mt. Holly, N. J., where he was a member of the basketball team.
He was an excellent golfer, a champion at college and at the Lakes Country Club at Medford Lakes. Following his graduation from Gettysburg, he enlisted in the Navy and went to Columbia University, where he received his commission as an Ensign, Oct. 21, 1942.
While it doesn't shed light on which unit he was with, it gives a little background. Also has his picture in the areticle.
http://www.phikappapsiarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/1943-44_vol64_no1-4.pdf
(page 57 of 224)
Charlie |
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Drew Cook
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2017 - 6:25pm
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On a "Naval History Homepage" website I found, under "United States Navy Casualties," Todd is listed as being in "Amphibious Boat Pool 8, New Georgia, Rendova, Vangunu occupation," with a death date of July 2, 1943.
Although I'm familiar, as we all are, with New Georgia and Rendova, I don't know that I've ever heard of "Vangunu" or "Amphibious Boat Pool 8," but Vangunu is the large island just to the south east of New Georgia.
Haven't found any more specific circumstances of Ensign Todd's death.
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2017 - 6:30pm
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Kind of pushing away from being a PT boater.
Charlie |
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Will Day
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2017 - 7:10pm
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I'm not sure that is the right Todd. I seem to remember reading that the "Todd City" sailor was an enlisted PT man.
Will |
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2017 - 10:08pm
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Will:
I originally thought that too, however, McElroy remembered this Ensign Todd who was KIA on July 2 1943, which jibes with RON 9 first heading to Lumbari.
However, looking at Fold3 , GM2/C Merwin Kenneth. Todd , Albuquerque, NM was a RON 9 crewman in KIA on July 4, 1943 which puts him on what boat?
Take care,
TED
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bubbletop409
MASTER
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2017 - 10:56pm
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Isn't there a scene in the movie PT 109 where the question of the origin of the name of Todd City is raised, I believe by Mr. Kennedy?
Larry
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29navy
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Posted on: Feb 14, 2017 - 3:29am
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The only question raised was why Todd City, where it is stated in Donovan's book and the movie,
The book says "Leon Todd, Jr., of Commander Kelly's Squadron 9, who was the first PT man killed an Rendova."
So maybe Donovan got the wrong Todd. Merwin kind of sounds like Leon.
Charlie |
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TED WALTHER |
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Posted on: Feb 14, 2017 - 7:10am
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Charlie;
Maybe it was named for both? Isn't it unusual that two guys with the same last name are killed at the same base within two days?
Assigned to the Rendova operation is Boat Pool Eight and ARGUS 11(https://argusunits.wordpress.com/argus1-12/argus-unit-2/) Which was land based radar tracking units that used.Long-Range Aircraft Warning Sets.
The equiptment these units used were:
SCR-270-D Mobile Long Wave Aircraft Warning Set. GCI–Ground or Ship Control of Interception Sets,
SCR-527 Mobile Long Wave Aircraft detector and GCI
SCR-588 Long Wave Aircraft detector and GCI
Ground based IFF units, Transponder — Interrogator-Responsor
On 3 July 1943 they list “REPORT OF CHANGES” for Unit #11 dated 31 July 1943 indicated that the Unit suffered casualties from an enemy air raid on Rendova Island 2 July 1943. One man is listed as killed in action and one as missing in action.
So while this report is from an accompanying unit, it is pointing towards Ensign Todd being killed in a bombing raid..
Take care,
TED
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