rw rrTrlUmerhlUrlClUcrlUcL rl rel orl rele Oe AMERICANS ON ASCENSION WORLD WAR II CARING FOR BODY, HEART AND SOUL The 175" Field Hospital The Grotto of Our Lady of Ascension Roman Catholic Chapel The American Military Cemetery Shari D. Parkhill Ascension Island Heritage Society 2" Edition ©2009Caring for Body, Heart and Soul Foreword This booklet is the result of an interest in the history of the United States Military presence on Ascension Island during the Second World War, especially the medical and religious aspects. As both a member of the medical community on Ascension and Administrator of the Grotto, and as someone with an abiding interest in this strange piece of rock in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean that has become such an important part of my life, | decided that more information was needed about the Grotto of Our Lady of Ascension, the old U.S. Military Cemetery and the 175" Field Hospital. My thanks are extended to those amateur historians with an interest in the history of Ascension, especially Jeffery A. Cant. He has proved invaluable in supplying me with photographs and his research, all of which filled in a great many gaps. The available research material is scanty at best. It has been difficult to find information on some topics, and this is reflected in the writing. It is simply the basic history as | could uncover it from various sources. To quote Mr. Cant “...sometimes there can be no definite ending with a neat bow saying ‘finished’. Sometimes history seems to delight in wanting to leave us forever guessing.” As well, my gratitude goes out to those members of the Ascension Island Heritage Society who have over the years carefully collected and preserved the available material. The work that you have undertaken in the past supplied the groundwork for this booklet. | have borrowed liberally from the military reports that are available. In many cases, the words of those who were actually here at that time create the clearest illustration. While | have credited the sources, many do not record the authors, so to all the unknown military men who toiled on typewriters to record the history of your regiments and your personal experiences, | thank you for your time and effort. | accept full responsibility for any errors or omissions. This booklet, which is simply my attempt to collect data and present it in a logical order, is dedicated to the men of the U.S. Military who set out on a secret mission, to an unknown destination, and endured hardship and loneliness, to provide services to their fellow servicemen. Although they didn’t face the enemy directly, their efforts supported the war effort in a special and unique way. May their sacrifices never be forgotten by a grateful world.En nent Offece _ : ” SISK Enuegese Avalon G 42-43 Tracedby CTo Spo /a3 Copid by TAO 21/3/52 Map Legend — Buildings — Hospital Area Dent ing "Shoo! | 10 — Administration Block 14 — Surgical Building No. 1 12 —Mess Hall 13 — Supply Building 14 — Surgical Building No. 2 15 — Ward Building 16 — Ward Building ‘Map courtesy Jeff Gant U.S. Military Hospital & Cemetery rp courtoay Jel CantCaring for Body, Heart and Soul Part One - 175" Field Hospital Construction When the Americans arrived on Ascension in 1942, the main intent was to build an airfield. Of course, this also required the construction of supporting camp facilities, including medical facilities. The 38" Combat Engineer Regiment was created in 1942, and trained in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. On 3" March, 1942, personnel left Fort Jackson ; for Charleston, South Carolina under orders to deploy to a secret location. They were told that it was a volcanic island in a tropical climate, an island code-named } “Agate”. They set sail on the troop ship S.S Coamo, with the Luckenbach and Pan Royal accompanying them, carrying supplies. The Coamo as the USAT Coamo in 1942 The Coamo took to sea on 14th March, crossed the equator on 24" March and after a brief stopover in Recife, Brazil, headed out on the 1,226 mile leg to | Ascension. At 1300h on 30" March the call of Land Ahoy was heard. Two hours later the Coamo dropped anchor in Clarence Bay.| While the construction projects got underway, the medical contingent, of | seventy-seven men, set up temporary quarters on 1 April in the “Garrison Hospital”, a local medical facility, following negotiations with the local senior medical officer Dr. H. E. Perkins, a Cable & Wireless employee. The operating theatre and X-ray department set up on 8" April at the Zymotic, an old isolation hospital building in Georgetown, and the next day the dental clinic was set up in the morgue building next door. The services of the medical staff of the 38" Engineers were needed almost immediately. Many of the American servicemen fell victim to a condition referred to locally as “Ascension Rollers’, an Acute Enterocolitis that caused a severe type of diarrhea thought to be transmitted by the swarms of house flies that soon inundated the temporary camp areas of the men. At one time, as many as sixty eight of the personnel were hospitalized, with many more confined to quarters. A number of the work units were operating on skeleton crews. It was undoubtedly the result of improper sanitation measures at the temporary bivouac site on Long Beach that contributed to the severity of the outbreak of disease. When sanitary conditions improved after Colonel John C. Mullenix took command of the troops stationed on the island, the scourge diminished. Lt Col Rogers and Captain Wilcox carried out reconnaissance and a permanent site for the hospital was selected at the base of Green Mountain, on the Old Mountain Road near the Two Boats, approximately four miles from Georgetown. This site, at 1,000 feet above sea level, was favourable due to its location, flatter topography and cooler climate. All these details lent themselves to the decision to construct the 175" Station Hospital at this location. The hospital area was also designated a “Last Stand Area’ should the enemy establish itself on the island. Shelter, food and water were cached in case the island population was required to retreat to the hospital. Construction was carried out by the 38 Combat Engineer Regiment and a detail of enlisted men from the Station Hospital. Begun on 1* May, the first stage was largely completed by 6" May. The second stage was begun on 18" June and completed on 2™ July. There were six buildings in all. The buildings were spread out as much as possible, taking advantage of the terrain for natural protection against shelling and bombing. Three of the buildings were protected by sand bags, which remained in place until September 1943.According to the notes of Captain E. H. Ruth, Adjutant of the 38" Engineer Regiment while on Ascension, the construction projects were divided into four groups. The first was the airport area, and the hospital constituted the second area. The third was the permanent camp and the fourth and final area of construction consisted of odd jobs. Work on all of the areas ‘started at about the same time, and Warren McCarty, Sr _cattied on simultaneously. Camp Casey Since Captain Ruth gives a very detailed account of the construction of the medical facilities, the following is an excerpt of his report. Comments in brackets are from other sources. The buildings to be erected were as follows: The Medical Administration Building, a raised wooden floor construction, as were all the other buildings in the hospital area. It was 20’ wide and 100’ long, and was divided into various rooms for the Adjutant, Commanding Officer, Executives, and all others. The 2™ building was a 20’ X 120’ surgery which was divided into a number of rooms; first operating room, second operating room, dark room, patients ward, laboratory, and others. The 3” building was a 20’ X 100’ Supply building which was divided into three sections: Morgue, medical supply, and general supplies. All 3 of the buildings were of the enclosed type, using windows for light and ventilation. The first two buildings had one side entrance leading into a hallway, and all the main rooms were reached from this hall. In the medical supply building, there was one outside entrance and two unloading platforms leading to the general supply room. The narcotic room was reached through the general store room. The fourth building constructed in this series was a 20’ X 160’ mess hall. This mess hall contained the kitchen in the center, with a large mess hall for EIM (enlisted members) and at the other end, a smaller mess hall for the officers. The windward side was of the enclosed type using windows, but the side leeward had 4’ screening. This gave a well ventilated, cool mess hall, and yet preventing dust and rain from blowing in. At this time, tent floors were constructed for 2 large hospital tents which were used as wards for the patients. Also tent floors were constructed for the EIM and officers. The officer area and EIM area was set back from the building area. Latrines were constructed in both of these areas as well as one near the hospital ward tents.The hospital was now on operational (sic) basis, and the construction in the first phase was completed on May 19". The 2™ phase of construction at the hospital started on June 18", and was completed on July 2". The main buildings constructed were three 20’ X 100’ hospital wards. These buildings were of the enclosed type with windows. Each had a large ward and 6 individual rooms. Also at this time, an alcohol storage room was erected at the end of the supply building. This consisted of two large barge cubes welded together with a steel locked door built in each. A generator and storage shed was built to house the electric generators for the x-ray machine and for the hospital. The shed also housed the portable sterilizer. The site of the hospital was on the Green Mountain Road near Two Boats (sic) and at the base of Green Mountain. This was approximately 4 miles from Georgetown and about the same distance from the permanent camp. The choice of this site was made because it was away from the other installations and was much cooler. The temperature was always 10 — 15 degrees (Fahrenheit) cooler than at the permanent camp. Also the rains were more frequent, giving it some green vegetation and cool atmosphere. It was situated close to the Green Mountain Road and the water line. During the last phase of construction a bulldozer had to be brought up to level out the building site for the ward buildings. While there, it was used to build a road into the area from the Green Mountain Road. At the same time, sites were leveled for two more ward buildings that were needed to complete the hospital construction. However, they were never built due to the shortage of building materials and the low percentage of hospital patients. As each building was completed, it was wired by the electricians. After completion of all the buildings, they wired the officers and EIM camp. The electrical power was furnished by a 5 KW generator, which was placed in the generator shed. (To preserve power, gas lanterns were used exclusively in tents and after 2300h in other buildings.) At this time, the fresh water system was installed. Four barge cubes were placed near the Green Mountain water line as storage tanks. From these cubes the water was pumped to a barge cube placed near the officer's camp area above the surgery. From here, the water had gravity flow to the surgical building, mess hall and wards. An agreement was made with the British (sic) that in return for some work on their water catching basins, they would furnish water for the hospital. So when water was let down from the Green Mountain storage tank to Georgetown, the hospital was notified, and they could fill their storage tanks. From here it could be pumped as it was used to the gravity flow tank. (Although this water supply was used by the inhabitants of Georgetown without further treatment, the laboratory at the hospital determined that the supply was contaminated, and it was chlorinated prior to use by the hospital.)Also, near the fresh water gravity flow tank, a cube was placed for salt water. This was filled by a water truck coming from Georgetown every day. The salt water was used for showers and other washing purposes”. Droughts over the next few years would result in many water shortages. Supply to the hospital from the reserves on Green Mountain was cut off on ‘several occasions, resulting in serious water shortages at the facility. Courtesy Jeff Cant 175" Station Hospital The 38" Combat Engineer Regiment worked almost three and a half months without resupply. Food rations were reduced twice. The men were reporting excessive weight loss, in the case of one from 184 to 133 pounds. The gentleman in question, named Benton, stated it simply but evocatively: “Everyone looked like scarecrows’, Fishing parties helped to augment the meager food supplies by catching yellowtails, bonita, jacks and tuna. Even porpoises were harpooned, although | they turned out to be tasteless and difficult to chew. Turtles were also “tipped” and turned into soup and steaks, sometimes with permission of the Cable & Wireless manager, sometimes without. Warren McCarty, SrAs Benton recalls in James Chase's article “Radio Station WYUC": “Most guys got by on fish and G.I. grub but some tried other sources, leading to discovering carnivorous beasts. The medical detachment at Green Mountain must have hungered for meat because animals were reported missing from the hospital area. The British were not amused when the medics reported they had been attacked by ferocious, man-eating, Ascension killer SHEEP!” 1942 - 1944 The 38" Combat Engineer Regiment left Ascension in August of 1942, leaving behind the first echelon of the 175" Station Hospital. The second echelon had been assembled at Camp Pendleton, Virginia. A number of hospitals on military posts in the surrounding area contributed medical personnel to this group of enlisted personnel. After training at the Station Hospital at Camp Pendelton, which included night drills, first aid training, gas mask drills, and courses in sanitation, the men were assigned to technical training in the various wards of the hospital. The men were exposed to the Medical and Surgical wards, Operating Room, X-Ray Department and Laboratory. The training given to the men by the Medical Officers and nurses of the medical facility at Camp Pendleton proved to be invaluable to the technicians of the 175" Station Hospital. They were enlisted men, and once they reached Ascension, they were to perform not only the duties of hospital corpsmen, but also those of trained nurses. No nurses were ever assigned to the 175" Station Hospital on Ascension Island. Newly trained, this second echelon left Camp Pendleton on the 5” July of 1942, and arrived in Charleston the next day. After further training, and a few chances for recreational activities, they sailed from Charleston, along with members of other units, on 26" July on the United States Army Transport ship, the James T. Parker. While on board, the men further trained for duty at the 175" Station Hospital by assisting with the operation of the ship's hospital facilities, eaming them a commendation for their excellent work form the transport Surgeon. Life on board ship included self-made entertainment. While crossing the Equator an elaborate initiation of the “Pollywogs” (first time crossers) by the “Shellbacks” (those men who had crossed the Equator previously) included salt water showers from fire hoses, being painted with mustard, and having elaborate patterns shaved into their hair. They received certificates certifying that they were in the future safe from further hazing. Arriving in Recife, Brazil, on the 9" of August was an experience for the men. While not allowed to disembark, it was the first night the military personnel were not subject to blackout, and the lights of a big city under no blackout conditions was a sight that kept many of the men enthralled. When the ship sailed from Recife the next day, its destination was still unknown to the men. They arrived at Ascension Island on 14" of August.Members of the 175" Station Hospital, first echelon, met the ship in a fishing boat, and enquired as to whether there were hospital personnel on board. The men had to disembark from the ship by making their way down a plain wooden plank, without handrails, to a flat barge. This was completed in waves that were pitching the plank upwards of thirty degrees. The barges were pulled by boats to the Georgetown Pierhead, where the new men and their gear were loaded into trucks and ambulances, and driven to the hospital at the foot of Green Mountain. And so the second echelon of the 175" Hospital arrived at their new station. Additional training of the men continued. Conferences were held for the officers on pertinent medical and administrative topics. Occasionally an officer would be sent off-island to attend specialized training and upon his return would conduct a course in the topic. This included a course in chemical warfare which was attended by all members of the 175" Station Hospital. Other courses for the enlisted men were taught by the officers including training in surgical dressing, operating technique, chemical sterilization, asepsis, infections and other medical topics. Living conditions for the personnel of the Hospital had progressed from the original bivouac on Long Beach, through tents without floors in Georgetown (which had to be held down in the wind by heavy crates, the original tent poles being unable to get any purchase in the loose sand), to barracks on the hospital grounds. Sleeping conditions definitely improved over time. Recreational activities also became more available. At first, the only |) activity available was swimming in the ocean, a dangerous activity due to the | undertow and massive rollers that can arise without warning. British Cable &| Wireless screened the occasional antiquated movie, charging the Americans an admission of twenty-five cents. No seats were available at these movie showings! Warren McCarty, Sr As the hospital area was developed, a rough baseball diamond was cleared off. A rugged nine hole golf course was carved out, one without greens or fairways, but liberally saturated with all sorts of natural sand traps and rocky hazards. Horse-shoe and Bocci courts were also constructed.An outdoor theatre was built by the enlisted men. At first, due to the dust swept up by the first bits of wind, actually watching the movies was almost unbearable, the men huddling under blankets, leaving only their eyes free to watch the movie. Fed up with these conditions, a detail of Hospital men drove to the top of Green Mountain and returned with bamboo and wild ginger. St. Helenian craftsmen then showed the Americans how to construct a useful windbreak. This resulted in more comfortable viewing of the movies. As time went on, and the third echelon of personnel arrived, the lengthy assignments to this remote location began to take its toll on the men. The end of March 1944 marked the completion of two years on Ascension for the first echelon, and the event was marked with the only available type of celebration, an afternoon off. In the official history of the 175" Station Hospital, the following is noted: “To a casual observer, the morale of the men who have been stationed on this isolated island for two years is excellent, but after a more intimate glimpse into their lives it is apparent that they have been affected. Their habits are more indolent than the ordinary soldier, they lack ambition for any enterprise, and everything they do is done without enthusiasm. They do their work satisfactorily, but there is very little to do. Probably if they had to work to capacity, the morale would be much better.” In early April, the United States Army Transport ship Monterey arrived to transport back to the states some of the longest serving units. This was a morale booster, even for those not scheduled for rotation, since it gave them hope that the long-awaited rotation schedule was actually in place, and they too would ‘soon be homeward bound. On 17" May, 1944, the census of patients consistently hovered around fifteen, so those hospitalized in Medical Ward | were moved to Surgical Ward II, and the former ward was closed. There had been a continual decrease in the number of patients. While certainly not a bad situation, it contributed to the lack of work for the hospital personnel. Around this time, there were attempts to institute several new programs aimed at boosting morale. The first was an expanded recreation program which would combine physical training and other entertainment. The amount of exercise prescribed for the men under the new program was at least five hours a week. A softball league was started and the hospital team got off to a good start, winning its first several games, before losing a couple of key players and meeting with defeat.Other sports leagues were organized, including basketball and volleyball. On Tuesdays and Fridays, every man not working was required to take part in sports. For those not interested in the organized games, hiking trips were organized Warren McCarty, Sr Green Mountain The movie theatre, now nicknamed the “Bull Gang Theatre” had been } showing movies every night. To expand the entertainment, and involve the men | more directly, some evenings of the week were instead devoted to judo and commando training, Games Nights and Party Nights. Orientation nights were also introduced, as prescribed by the War Department. These involved hourly sessions in which the men were informed about the progress of the war, and encouraged to participate in discussion. The thought was to get the men thinking for themselves. The emphasis of many of the subjects was to prepare the men for their post-war life as civilians, encouraging each to take an active roll in their community, and to exercise their right to vote. The “Bull Gang Theatre” was expanded to allow for its use as a live theatre, and was consequently host to several USO troupes, a welcome diversion for the men. A public address system was received at the hospital, which served to provide entertainment and relaxation for the men. Warren McCarty, Sr In the latter half of 1944, several distinguished visitors visited the island. These included a dentist who inspected the facilities and commended the officers for the fine work being done at Ascension and a Navy Doctor who lectured the men on psychosomatic ilinesses.Probably the most welcome visitor was the Personnel Officer who arrived to discuss problems that might arise when the replacements for the first, second and third echelons arrived. To the men, this meant that they might soon be going home. General morale was vastly improved by the release of the news that replacements were approaching South America, and orders for the departure of the pioneers of the organization that was the 175" Station Hospital were expected at any moment. With the end of the Second World War, the military presence on Ascension Island began to draw down. By late September 1945, most of the American troops had left the island, leaving only 450 men. The remaining small Medical Detachment transferred to the airfield area at this time. On the 30" of September the buildings of the 175" Station Hospital were being pulled down. By the end of 1945 only a few buildings remained at the hospital and main camp areas. By June of the following year, 1946, only 82 troops remained. On the 30" June 1947, a message to the British Colonial Office from Mr. Joy, the Governor of St. Helena, stated simply: “All United States Forces evacuated Ascension 31% May, 1947". With this, the first era of American presence on Ascension ended. Warren McCarty, Sr Boarding for HomeTribute The recognition that the morale of the men who had been stationed for so long on this isolated posting was low, and the desire of those in command to improve it, meant that by the time the men boarded the ship for their return to the United States, they left as a well-trained unit, ready to continue their mission in new theatres of operation. The personnel of 175" Station Hospital received their first patient on 4” April 1942. As of 24" March 1944, the records show that they cared for 2,959 patients. Hospital facilities were provided for United States Army and Navy personnel stationed on Ascension Island, at times numbering between 3,000 and 4,000 men. The 175" Station Hospital cared for two groups of survivors brought to Ascension from torpedoed ships, the American ship Samuel Jordan Kirkwood, and the Dutch ship, Benaukt. These survivors were accommodated in tents at the hospital site, the Benaukt crew under guard since they were of mixed ethnic backgrounds. As well, they were always prepared to render care to the thousands of transient air travelers who passed through Wideawake Air Field. The Hospital served as one link in the chain of evacuation from Africa to the United States for wounded and sick personnel. These duties included handling cases of infectious disease, and the resulting quarantine restrictions. On a day to day basis, the men of the 175" Station Hospital dealt with varied medical situations, usually routine illnesses and minor injuries. However, they also had to deal with the terrible results of plane crashes, and the deaths of their fellow servicemen. In one aircraft crash on Wideawake Airfield, there were twelve fatalities with another five survivors treated for serious injuries. This responsibility was both tremendous and taxing to the medical contingent. In addition to their hospital duties, many of the personnel served in other capacities, both in the military and on Special Courts on the island. The 175" Station Hospital provided an admirable service to the Americans stationed on Ascension during the war years. They established a first-rate facility in an inhospitable location. The enlisted men were technicians, not nurses, drawn from different walks of life. They were men trained and more importantly determined to deal with whatever came their way. They coped with lack of supplies, lack of water, and by the end of their lengthy postings, a serious problem with morale brought on by inactivity and homesickness. They overcame all the obstacles, and should always be remembered for their sacrifices.The official history of the 175" Station Hospital concludes with the following. No more fitting statement of their accomplishments could be written. “Behind the organization lies the full accomplishment of its assigned mission at the time of its activation. Two full years, packed with the rigors of living on a desolate, isolated Island with the constantly expected, but never realized, contact with the enemy, have gone by. The unit stands ready, today, better equipped and better trained that at any time in its history, to carry on.” Courtesy Jeff CantCaring for Body, Heart and Soul Part Two — The Grotto of Our Lady of Ascension The chapel that came to be known as “the Grotto” was built in 1944. The | primary focus of the 38" Combat Engineer Regiment, the first Americans to arrive on Ascension, was to complete the runway, a feat they accomplished in under three months. They then moved on to West Africa, and were replaced on _ a more permanent basis by the men of the 91* Infantry and other groups. | 4 At the time of the arrival of the second wave of troops, the only church on the island was St. Mary's Anglican Church. This afforded a place of worship for the Protestant servicemen, but not for the Roman Catholics. Apparently this was the impetus behind the building of the Grotto, undoubtedly with the support of the Catholic chaplain. In the history of the 895" Engineers is the following quote: “A beautiful rock grotto with a shrine and sandbag seats was constructed for the purpose of holding religious services. On Easter Sunday it was Warren McCarty, Sr first opened for use by members of this command.’ St.Mary's Anglican Church Georgetown Warren McCarty, Sr 15The original chapel was built of local lava rock, recycled Quonset hut material and sandbags. It consisted of a rock wall ‘surrounding the altar area, a low domed roof, and a raised altar. The sandbags were utilized for the outer walls, and for kneeling pads. The statue of our Lady was shipped from the United States. She still graces the altar of the Grotto, although she was repaired and repainted by a volunteer in 1995. The Grotto served as a place of worship for the servicemen who were ‘stationed on Ascension until the base closure in 1947. It was a sanctuary and a much needed retreat from the everyday reminders of a desolate island, in the middle of nowhere, during a tragic war. The American G.I.’s kept their faith high, _ and the construction of the Grotto was a sign of their devotion. Weekly services were held during the years the American troops were stationed on Ascension. At times, the numbers of American servicemen on Ascension numbered between 2,000 and 3,000. fo As mentioned in the previous section, many of the men were stationed on Ascension for lengthy periods of time, sometimes exceeding two years. Many suffered from boredom and homesickness, and at times, maintaining morale became difficult. Chaplains in the military have a long and distinguished history of looking after the spiritual needs of the military personnel under their care. The wonderful atmosphere afforded by the uniqueness of the Grotto must have brought comfort to many. When the Americans left in 1947, the Grotto fell into disuse and was neglected. With the closure of the American base, and the departure of the troops, Ascension Island once again returned to a quieter lifestyle. Since there had been no resident vicar at St. Mary’s Church since early in the 1900s, there was now no clergy permanently attached to the island. A new era in Ascension Island’s history was ushered in when the United States entered an agreement with the United Kingdom to reopen Wideawake Airfield in 1956. Ascension Auxiliary Airfield had a new future as Station 12 of the Eastern Test Range. It marked the retum of the Americans, this time to build a tracking station that was the southern terminus in a series of down-range stations that stretched over 5,000 miles from Cape Canaveral in Florida across the Atlantic Ocean to this remote island. In 1965 Ascension Island was designated part of the Apollo Tracking network by NASA. A Deep Space Network Station was built at Devil's Ashpit, and more Americans arrived on the island to work at this site.By 1964, not only had the Americans returned, but a number of British organizations were expanding their presence on the island. A labour corps of West Indians was recruited for the building projects. The population on Ascension was growing rapidly. Both the American and British authorities recognized the need for resident religious leaders, and the responsibility to provide these fell to the church leaders of St. Helena Island. Early in 1965 Father John Kelly and Bishop Beardmore were making plans to move to Ascension from St. Helena. They drew up plans for a joint vicarage to be built. By the time they arrived, however, opposition had arisen to this plan by some local residents, who objected to Father Kelly having any involvement in the Anglican church. Despite protestations that this would not happen, the opposition remained rather fierce, and the plans were abandoned. Bishop Beardmore was assured of a residence for his short stay. He was soon replaced by Reverend John Crawford, who lived in a tent at English Bay with the construction workers until the vicarage in Georgetown was completed. Unlike the Bishop, upon his arrival Father Kelly was not as lucky in being provided comfortable accommodation. He was given the use of a small decrepit hut, one apparently saved at the last moment from the bulldozer. It consisted of two rooms, one he used for living quarters, and one he used to hold services. He gratefully accepted donations of furniture from local residents and moved in. The chapel room he blessed and named the Chapel of St. John Bosco. On Sunday evenings, Father Kelly held services in a tent at English Bay for the West Indian labourers. Most evenings the services were constantly interrupted by the noisy domino playing of the men who didn’t attend. It was soon evident to all that the congregation needed a better place of worship than the hut and the tent. Father Kelly states that he wasn’t sure if it was because the Americans had banged their heads once too often on the low doorway of his hut on their way to service, but he was soon offered accommodation on base, and the use of the old Grotto. It was more likely a result of the fact that all natural and cultural resources located within the base boundaries had become the responsibility of the Air Force upon reactivation of the base. Due to its historical significance, the Grotto was added to the wing's cultural resource listing, therefore requiring protection and preservation. When Father Kelly took over the Grotto in 1965 it was a sad spectacle. The original roof had caved in. During the next two years, the Catholics on the island, with tremendous zeal and enthusiasm, according to Father Kelly, renewed the structure. The original domed roof over the altar area was replaced with a corrugated metal roof. A covered area for the congregation was constructed of concrete block, 4-inch steel columns, a low-pitched gable roof, and a painted concrete floor with 5-inch square terracotta tiles in the centre of aisle and at the stepped altar. Although it now had a roof, the Grotto still maintained its open air atmosphere.‘THE GROTTO - EILEEN WILKTESON - 1979 Note the new Cross in 1980 Roman Catholic ‘Grotto’ Church (1980)A large domed Quonset hut was a gift from the Base authorities and moved on site. Blessed and named the St. Helena Chapel by Father Kelly, it afforded more protection during severe inclement weather. It remained in place until the late 1980s when it was replaced by a Portakabin supplied by the Royal Air Force. This was named the “Vatican Villa’, and while still on site is succumbing to the ravages of time and termites. In the mid 1980s, the walls were added by an American volunteer, Frank Lane, and his crew. These added some protection from the weather, while again, leaving the open concept and feeling of the Grotto. It was now possible to conduct services in the chapel during any inclement weather. Courtesy Jf Cant In 2002, more than 50 years after the original construction of the Grotto, it was recognized that the years of wind, rain and termites had taken its toll on the chapel, and a conservation project was undertaken The restoration philosophy was to preserve the unique characteristics of the original design. The roof, rafters, beams and lighting fixtures were replaced, and the lead-based paint was abated from the structure. The renovation project was completed in 2004. Courtesy Bobby CrumrineFather Kelly left the island in 1975, grateful to the American Base for their support of the Grotto, and for giving him the opportunity to serve the Roman Catholic population of Ascension. He states in an article in the Islander newspaper in 1976: “There is an immense debt of gratitude owing to the Base Authorities both from myself and from those Catholics past and present who have made use of the Grotto for their devotional life on Ascension’. To all those people over the years who have contributed to the building, renewal and maintenance of this wonderful piece of history, we add our thanks. The Grotto of Our Lady of Ascension has continued to be a functioning church, serving the Roman Catholic population of Ascension Island. The island is part of the Roman Catholic diocese of the South Atlantic Ocean. As well as Ascension, the diocese includes the islands of St. Helena, the Falklands, Tristan da Cunha and South Georgia. The Monsignor and parish priest reside on the Falklands, and make frequent visits to Ascension. In the absence of a resident priest, the services are conducted by members of the congregation. In 2006, the church celebrated its very first wedding. Like Wideawake Airfield, the Grotto is a lasting reminder of the men who arrived on this sleepy little remote island in 1942, and transformed it into a place of vital importance in the war efforts of the Second World War. The Grotto of Our Lady of Ascension is a unique chapel, built to serve the military personnel in the 1940s, and which has claimed its own significant place in the history of Ascension Island. It has always been a place of worship, prayer and reflection. It met the needs of the faithful in the busy days of the war years, and continues to do so today, a fitting tribute to the memory of all the military men who served on Ascension. Courtesy Bobby Crumrine 20Part Three — The U. S. Military Cemetery on Ascension Although the first American fatality occurred on 27" April when Private Paul W. Howard was drowned while fishing, the U.S. cemetery was not officially laid out until October of 1942. Two other servicemen died in June of that year. Warren McCarty, Sr The cemetery was built on a flat area in what is now Two Boats Village. The design was a quadrant pattern with a gated archway, with a flag pole in the centre. Towards the back of the quadrant stood another gateway, leading to the area of the graves, marked by two long rows of white crosses and one Star of David. 21Over the years that the U.S. military originally had a presence on Ascension, more than 60 men lost their lives on the island, or in the surrounding sea. Fatalities resulted from drowning, electrocution, training mishaps, motor vehicle accidents and aircraft crashes. Those whose bodies were recovered were laid to rest in the Military Cemetery. Jeffery A. Cant, an avid Ascension World War Ii historian, conducted exhaustive research in the early 1990s in an attempt to uncover the names of the ‘American Ascension war dead through Casualty Reports. Along with recently uncovered documents pertaining to the repatriation of the bodies, it can be definitively reported that thirty-four servicemen were buried in the cemetery. The roll call of the dead now stands at sixty-four. Whether this number accounts for all those men who lost their lives on Ascension or in the waters surrounding the island cannot be known for sure. However, whether they are all known to us, we can be assured that they are all known to God.The bodies were repatriated to Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico in February of 1947. Mr. Cant uncovered the following correspondence. A letter dated 17’ January 1947 from Colonel C. B. Avera, HQ American Graves Registration Service, states that “All remains on Ascension Island have been located and are all concentrated in American Cemetery, Ascension Island’. The next message is a cable from Colonel Avera which states “DISINTERNMENT OPERATION ASCENSION ISLAND COMPLETED PD AIRLIFT TO SAN JUAN VIA NATAL AND ATKINSON FIELD SCHEDULED TO DEPART MONDAY TWENTY FOUR FEBRUARY’. The Base was deactivated in May of 1947, so the removal of the bodies from Ascension was obviously a military decision to return the remains to American soil prior to the closure of the U.S. Base on Ascension. Julie Cramer, who was involved in the visit of the veterans to Ascension in 1995, provided the following information. She received a fax from the Veteran's Affairs Department in 1995 that states: “Initial research indicates that the cemetery on Ascension was deconsecrated in the 1940s and the remains shipped to Ft. Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Under then existing rules, no remains were to be shipped directly to the U.S. After the war, relatives were contacted regarding their decision on the remains.” In October of 1947, an official repatriation of American war dead from the Second World War came into effect. Families of fallen soldiers were given the option to have the remains of their loved ones returned to the United States, for burial either in a National Cemetery, or in a graveyard of the family’s choice. The burial sites of several of the Ascension war dead have been located in mainland U.S. cemeteries. The burial dates of these men in American National Cemeteries in various parts of the country were between May and July of 1948, after the official repatriation effort began. The exact location of the U.S. Military Cemetery on Ascension was long a matter of some debate. In the 1960s the Village of Two Boats was constructed in the area. From pictures and maps of the cemetery, it is apparent that it was built in the area that is now the upper part of Two Boats Village, close to the old Mountain Road. The following is an excerpt from the notes of Steven Cardwell, the Manager of Cable & Wireless at the time, and as such, the manager of the Island. 23“Up at Muriel Avenue, just below Two Boats, in the coo! breezes swirling around the mountain, Old Glory flies bravely over the Military Cemetery which is situated around a cluster of palms.” aes Photo courtesy of Jeff Cant 24Tribute At the end of the war, there was talk of a commemorative plaque to honour the servicemen who had lost their lives on Ascension and in the sea surrounding the island, but this never came about. As part of the 50” anniversary of the end of World War II, there was a renewed interest and effort, and it was decided to install a plaque in St. Mary's Church to honour the 55 then known dead. The ‘Missileer’ is the newspaper of the 45" Space Wing of the United States Air Force based at Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral in Florida. In the pages of the issue of 8" September 1995 is the following description of the ceremony. “On Aug 13” 1995 every island organization was represented in St. Mary's Church in Georgetown on the island of Ascension for the Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance, when a memorial was dedicated to the U.S. Servicemen who gave their lives in the cause of peace while stationed on Ascension. The service began with an introduction by His Honour the Island Administrator, Roger Huxley, and was conducted by Father Nicholas Turner (the island's Anglican Vicar) and Deacon Anne Turner. There were readings by representatives of the U.S. Air Force, Navy and the American Legion. Then the entire congregation listened in reverence as the roll call of servicemen who died ‘on or around the island during the war was recited, followed by an eerie call of “All Absent, Sir’. THE ROLL CALL 27™ Apr 1942 Pvt Paul W. Howard 426" Coast Artillery 9" June 1942 Sgt Lawrence S. Davies Army Airways Comms. 22"4 June 1942 Pvt Michael Vucelich 175" Station Hospital 10" Jan 1943 Capt Virgil D. Holdsworth 1* Composite Sqdn 20" Mar 1943 Tech Carl N. Woody 898" Engineer Aviation 13” Apr 1943 Sgt Anthony J. Golinar 898" Engineer Aviation 2515" Oct 1943 19" Oct 1943 15" Dec 1943 2° Jan 1944 6" Apr 1944 27" June 1944 13" Aug 1944 17" Mar 1945, 2™ Lt Edgar J. Wentworth 2” Lt Alban R. Zahnen 2" Lt Emest J. Stauffacher 2° Lt Glenn H. Hoff ‘S/Sgt Jon L. Guttormsson ‘S/Sgt Michael Stankovich Sgt John W. Kenyon, Jnr ‘Sgt Thomas L. Wirtz Sgt Robert A. Meek 1* Lt James M. Paschal 2° Lt Curtis P. Grooms 2™ Lt James A. Burnett, Jr. 2" Lt Frank D. Robinson ‘S/Sgt Lon M. Helm Sgt Donald M. Jones ‘Sgt Merrill H. Blakewell 2™ Lt Daniel C. Madrano 2" Lt Robert J. Redmond ‘Sgt Frank R. Penzenstadler Lt Robert T. Johnson Ens Eugene Bowers Ens John D. Cowan Ens James H. Wells AMM2c Russell Hamilton AMM3c Donald W. Carpenter AOMS8c Edward J. Fisher ARM2c William E. Winter ARM3c Joslyn Simpson $2c George E. Roper Maj Langley T. Gatling S/Sgt Charles H. Horton ‘S/Sgt Wayne E. Dyer PFC Milton L. Wolfangle Lt Walter H. Soehner Ens Rodney A. Rice Ens Frank O. Warner, Jnr. ARM 2c Lionel H. Delacroix ARM 3c Dick West 26 USAAF USAAF USAAF USAAF USAAF USAAF USAAF USAAF USAAF 1* Composite Sqdn 1* Composite Sqdn 4% Composite Sqdn 1% Composite Sqdn 1* Composite Sqdn 4% Composite Sqdn 4* Composite Sqdn USAAF USAAF USAAF VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN VB-107 Sqdn USN 1* Composite Sqdn 1152 AAF Base Unit VPB-45 Sqdn USN VPB-45 Sqdn USN VPB-45 Sqdn USN VPB-45 Sqdn USN VPB-45 Sqdn USN10" May 1945 Capt John R. Siddall USAAF Capt Jacob J. Moidel USAAF T/Sgt Andrew L. McBride USAAF ‘Sgt Theodore W. Ruiz USAAF Cpl Jerry J. Kozlik USAAF Cpl Thomas J. Savage USAAF Cpl Donald L. Shannon USAAF Pvt James T. Coleman USAAF Pvt Ralph E. Defore USAAF PFC Adolph Mazzocco USAAF PFC Gerard Barba USAAF PFC William H. Wimmer USAAF 11" June 1945-2“ Lt Frank S. Pierce USAAF Flight Officer Frank M. Pierson USAAF Pvt Glennon A. Peyton USAAF 21% June 1945 Cox John W. Kinkennon USN MoMM3c Shirley A. Pringle USN May they rest in peace And rise in glory (“Going Home “ was sung at the service of Thanksgiving, 1995) Going home, going home, I’m just going home Quiet like, some still day, I'm just going home It's not far, just close by, through an open door Work all done, care laid by, going to fear no more. Mother's there expecting me, father’s waiting too Lots of folk, gathered there, all the friends | knew Morning star lights the way, restless dreams all done. Shadows gone, break of day, real life just begun. There's no break, there's no end, just a living on, Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on. Going home, going home, I’m just going home It's not far, just close by, through an open door I'm just going home. 27TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THE 55 GALLANT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II WHILE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY AT ASCENSION A.A.F. PLACED ON THE 50™ ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY, BY THEIR COMRADES IN ‘THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE SERVED ON ASCENSION A.A.F. Plaque in St. Mary's Church, Georgetown, Ascension Island The following names can now be added to the Roll Call: 2" May 1943 PFC Earl J. Harrington —_ 1* Composite Sqdn 6" April 1944 Sgt. Stewart Milligan Unknown Anderson, Marvin Writing about the Remembrance ceremony on 13" August 1995, and the placement of the memorial plaque in St. Mary’s Church, Georgetown, Jeffery Cant so eloquently reminds us of those young men lost in the service of their country and a grateful world: “It was placed as a tribute to the sacrifice of all who died whilst serving or flying from Ascension Island and whose names are recorded......In addition to the names here, many aircrew and sailors perished on their way to and from Ascension and whose bodies were received into the mighty Atlantic Ocean. They have no known grave but will also be remembered.” May they forever rest in peace. 28Thanks Again, | would like to take this opportunity to extend my most sincere thanks to Jeff Cant. Without his valuable assistance as a source of information, documents, contacts, photographs and insight, this project would never have been i possible | would also like to thank the family of Warren McCarty, Sr., for their generosity in sharing his photograph collection with the Ascension Island Heritage Society. It is deeply appreciated. | would also like to extend my grateful thanks and appreciation to Justine Yon. Her computer skills and help in preparing this booklet were invaluable. Justine is my colleague, and more importantly, a dear friend. To Michael Doherty, who brought my attention to a few minor errors in the first edition, my thanks; | want this book to be a tribute to the men who served here, and to be as accurate as possible. To all who have supported me in any way in this project, you have my gratitude. The list is long; my fellow members of the Ascension Island Heritage Society, Bemard Peterson, and all those Islanders, past and present, that | called upon for information. This booklet is for all of you. And most of all, to the American military men who made Ascension Island their home in the 1940's, this booklet is dedicated to your memory. Without you, there would have been no story. 29The Americans on Ascension Island World War II Caring for Body, Heart and Soul Sources 895" Engineers History Ascension Island; After The Battle magazine, Issue Number 32,1981, Jeffery A. Cant Ascension at War, Jeffery A. Cant, April 1993 Excerpts from Daily Task Journal, Task Force 4612-A Excerpts from Voyage and Ascension (notes of Captain E. H. Ruth, Adjutant of the 38" Engineer Regiment while on Ascension Island) Historic Catholic Grotto at Ascension Island Renovated; Frontier magazine, October, 2005 History — 175" Station Hospital History of the 3“ Battalion, 91* Infantry Notes from Julie Cramer, 2007 The Story of the Grotto; Jeffery A. Cant, October 2007 The Thirty-Eighth Engineers Story, Parts | & II (1955) They Are At Peace: Facts, Figures and Photographs of the Burial Grounds of Ascension Island; Keith E. A. James, Vicar of St. Mary's Church, Ascension Island 1998 — 2002 Things Are Not Always What They Seem 1965 — 1975; The Islander newspaper: Reverend John Kelly, Catholic Priest, St. Helena/Ascension, U.S. Forces — Ascension Island Cemetery Burials; Jeffery A. Cant, October 2007 U.S. Forces Deaths on Ascension Island During W.W. Il, Jeffery A. Cant, May 1995 Warren McCarty, Sr., Photograph Collection, donated by his son Warren (Mick) McCarty, Jr. Wideawake Field, Jeffery A. Cant, 1973 WW. II Military Casualties on Ascension Island, Jeffery A. Cant, 2007 30