(Alvin was aboard the U.S.S. Meredith):
"Departing Espiritu Santo 12 October for Guadalcanal escorting cargo ships Bellatrix and Alchiba towing barges plus Jamestown and Vireo, under orders to get through if at all possible. After Nicholas joined the formation, it turned back, then divided on the morning of 15 October, with Meredith escorting Vireo (now towing Bellatrix's barge) setting course again for Guadalcanal in a do-or-die mission. Caught between a reported enemy cruiser force and carrier Zuikaku's approaching task force, Meredith took aboard Vireo's crew and was preparing for surface action when 38 aircraft attacked. Hit by multiple bombs and torpedoes, Meredith broke into three and sank in less than ten minutes. For 70 hours, survivors of the two ships alternated time on overloaded life rafts with time treading water, often under attack by sharks. Only on 18 October were they spotted by a PBY, which led Grayson ("angels in white hats with dungarees"), Gwin and fleet tug Seminole to their position, where they rescued 97. Four of these soon died, bringing the total lost to 237. Meredith earned one battle star for this action."
Bio provided by History of USS Meredith
Killed in Action (KIA) during WWII. He was recorded as Missing in Action (MIA) on 15 Oct 1942. Alvin Henry Aiken also has a memorial in Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Also known as: Fort William McKinley Cemetery
"Departing Espiritu Santo 12 October for Guadalcanal escorting cargo ships Bellatrix and Alchiba towing barges plus Jamestown and Vireo, under orders to get through if at all possible. After Nicholas joined the formation, it turned back, then divided on the morning of 15 October, with Meredith escorting Vireo (now towing Bellatrix's barge) setting course again for Guadalcanal in a do-or-die mission. Caught between a reported enemy cruiser force and carrier Zuikaku's approaching task force, Meredith took aboard Vireo's crew and was preparing for surface action when 38 aircraft attacked. Hit by multiple bombs and torpedoes, Meredith broke into three and sank in less than ten minutes. For 70 hours, survivors of the two ships alternated time on overloaded life rafts with time treading water, often under attack by sharks. Only on 18 October were they spotted by a PBY, which led Grayson ("angels in white hats with dungarees"), Gwin and fleet tug Seminole to their position, where they rescued 97. Four of these soon died, bringing the total lost to 237. Meredith earned one battle star for this action."
Bio provided by History of USS Meredith
Killed in Action (KIA) during WWII. He was recorded as Missing in Action (MIA) on 15 Oct 1942. Alvin Henry Aiken also has a memorial in Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Also known as: Fort William McKinley Cemetery
(Alvin was aboard the U.S.S. Meredith):
"Departing Espiritu Santo 12 October for Guadalcanal escorting cargo ships Bellatrix and Alchiba towing barges plus Jamestown and Vireo, under orders to get through if at all possible. After Nicholas joined the formation, it turned back, then divided on the morning of 15 October, with Meredith escorting Vireo (now towing Bellatrix's barge) setting course again for Guadalcanal in a do-or-die mission. Caught between a reported enemy cruiser force and carrier Zuikaku's approaching task force, Meredith took aboard Vireo's crew and was preparing for surface action when 38 aircraft attacked. Hit by multiple bombs and torpedoes, Meredith broke into three and sank in less than ten minutes. For 70 hours, survivors of the two ships alternated time on overloaded life rafts with time treading water, often under attack by sharks. Only on 18 October were they spotted by a PBY, which led Grayson ("angels in white hats with dungarees"), Gwin and fleet tug Seminole to their position, where they rescued 97. Four of these soon died, bringing the total lost to 237. Meredith earned one battle star for this action."
Bio provided by History of USS Meredith
Killed in Action (KIA) during WWII. He was recorded as Missing in Action (MIA) on 15 Oct 1942. Alvin Henry Aiken also has a memorial in Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Also known as: Fort William McKinley Cemetery
"Departing Espiritu Santo 12 October for Guadalcanal escorting cargo ships Bellatrix and Alchiba towing barges plus Jamestown and Vireo, under orders to get through if at all possible. After Nicholas joined the formation, it turned back, then divided on the morning of 15 October, with Meredith escorting Vireo (now towing Bellatrix's barge) setting course again for Guadalcanal in a do-or-die mission. Caught between a reported enemy cruiser force and carrier Zuikaku's approaching task force, Meredith took aboard Vireo's crew and was preparing for surface action when 38 aircraft attacked. Hit by multiple bombs and torpedoes, Meredith broke into three and sank in less than ten minutes. For 70 hours, survivors of the two ships alternated time on overloaded life rafts with time treading water, often under attack by sharks. Only on 18 October were they spotted by a PBY, which led Grayson ("angels in white hats with dungarees"), Gwin and fleet tug Seminole to their position, where they rescued 97. Four of these soon died, bringing the total lost to 237. Meredith earned one battle star for this action."
Bio provided by History of USS Meredith
Killed in Action (KIA) during WWII. He was recorded as Missing in Action (MIA) on 15 Oct 1942. Alvin Henry Aiken also has a memorial in Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Also known as: Fort William McKinley Cemetery
Gravesite Details
Cenotaph
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
