US Navy WORLD WAR II
Commander, James E. Kyes MIA/KIA Official Date of Death: 25-Dec-44
Graduate US. Naval Academy, Class of 1930
Hometown: Everett Washington
Wife, Mrs. Frances Melvina Kyes
Service # O-063278
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Captain: (Cdr J.E. Kyes, lost)
Ship: USS Leary (DD 158) Loss Date: 24-Dec-43
Mission: Convoy escort
Location: 45° 15'N, 21° 40'W - Grid BE 7343 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre
Fate: Sunk by U-275 (Helmut Bork)
Complement: 176 officers and men (97 dead and 79 survivors).
From researcher Kathy Franz:
James graduated from Everett high school in 1924. "A growing knowledge of material things." Entered, 1920; Scientific. Commencement Speaker "Economics of America"; Olympic Club; Service League; Honor Roll; Junior Farce; Assistant Business Manager Nesika yearbook. Prophecy: Mr. James Kyes and his wife, formerly Lucie Wilson, gave a reception in honor of the First Lady of the Land and her husband. Nickname: Jimmy. Pal: Three Royal Bums. Prominent Feature: My ears. Inspiration: Miss Taylor. Aspiration: To play football like Gordon Ferguson. James attended the University of Washington for two years. He and his wife Frances M. had two sons: James born in 1932 and David born in 1935. David served aboard the USS James Kyes, named after his father, and died in May, 2007.
In November, 1936, James' wife and two sons sailed from Honolulu to San Francisco. In 1940, the family lived in Medford, Massachusetts.
Cenotaph Memory Marker at Arlington National Cemetery
Notes on event
On 24 Dec, 1943, the American hunter-killer Task Group 21.14, formed around USS Card (CVE 11) was spotted by a German reconnaissance aircraft and the wolfpack Borkum was ordered to attack. The carrier had a narrow escape when three FAT torpedoes fired by U-415 (Neide) missed her at 01.43 hours. The same U-boat also missed USS Decatur (DD 341) with a Gnat.
At 05.05 hours, U-275 fired a Gnat at USS Leary (DD 158) and hit her on the starboard side in the after engine room. A second Gnat fired by U-382 (Zorn) at 05.21 hours missed the already sinking destroyer. She sank after a huge internal explosion within one minute about 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre. The survivors were picked up by USS Schenck (DD 159), which found U-645 (Ferro) later the same day, evaded a torpedo and sank the U-boat with depth charges.
Visit the virtual cemetery of USS Leary (DD 158) " Click Here "
Commander, James E. Kyes MIA/KIA Official Date of Death: 25-Dec-44
Graduate US. Naval Academy, Class of 1930
Hometown: Everett Washington
Wife, Mrs. Frances Melvina Kyes
Service # O-063278
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Captain: (Cdr J.E. Kyes, lost)
Ship: USS Leary (DD 158) Loss Date: 24-Dec-43
Mission: Convoy escort
Location: 45° 15'N, 21° 40'W - Grid BE 7343 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre
Fate: Sunk by U-275 (Helmut Bork)
Complement: 176 officers and men (97 dead and 79 survivors).
From researcher Kathy Franz:
James graduated from Everett high school in 1924. "A growing knowledge of material things." Entered, 1920; Scientific. Commencement Speaker "Economics of America"; Olympic Club; Service League; Honor Roll; Junior Farce; Assistant Business Manager Nesika yearbook. Prophecy: Mr. James Kyes and his wife, formerly Lucie Wilson, gave a reception in honor of the First Lady of the Land and her husband. Nickname: Jimmy. Pal: Three Royal Bums. Prominent Feature: My ears. Inspiration: Miss Taylor. Aspiration: To play football like Gordon Ferguson. James attended the University of Washington for two years. He and his wife Frances M. had two sons: James born in 1932 and David born in 1935. David served aboard the USS James Kyes, named after his father, and died in May, 2007.
In November, 1936, James' wife and two sons sailed from Honolulu to San Francisco. In 1940, the family lived in Medford, Massachusetts.
Cenotaph Memory Marker at Arlington National Cemetery
Notes on event
On 24 Dec, 1943, the American hunter-killer Task Group 21.14, formed around USS Card (CVE 11) was spotted by a German reconnaissance aircraft and the wolfpack Borkum was ordered to attack. The carrier had a narrow escape when three FAT torpedoes fired by U-415 (Neide) missed her at 01.43 hours. The same U-boat also missed USS Decatur (DD 341) with a Gnat.
At 05.05 hours, U-275 fired a Gnat at USS Leary (DD 158) and hit her on the starboard side in the after engine room. A second Gnat fired by U-382 (Zorn) at 05.21 hours missed the already sinking destroyer. She sank after a huge internal explosion within one minute about 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre. The survivors were picked up by USS Schenck (DD 159), which found U-645 (Ferro) later the same day, evaded a torpedo and sank the U-boat with depth charges.
Visit the virtual cemetery of USS Leary (DD 158) " Click Here "
US Navy WORLD WAR II
Commander, James E. Kyes MIA/KIA Official Date of Death: 25-Dec-44
Graduate US. Naval Academy, Class of 1930
Hometown: Everett Washington
Wife, Mrs. Frances Melvina Kyes
Service # O-063278
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Captain: (Cdr J.E. Kyes, lost)
Ship: USS Leary (DD 158) Loss Date: 24-Dec-43
Mission: Convoy escort
Location: 45° 15'N, 21° 40'W - Grid BE 7343 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre
Fate: Sunk by U-275 (Helmut Bork)
Complement: 176 officers and men (97 dead and 79 survivors).
From researcher Kathy Franz:
James graduated from Everett high school in 1924. "A growing knowledge of material things." Entered, 1920; Scientific. Commencement Speaker "Economics of America"; Olympic Club; Service League; Honor Roll; Junior Farce; Assistant Business Manager Nesika yearbook. Prophecy: Mr. James Kyes and his wife, formerly Lucie Wilson, gave a reception in honor of the First Lady of the Land and her husband. Nickname: Jimmy. Pal: Three Royal Bums. Prominent Feature: My ears. Inspiration: Miss Taylor. Aspiration: To play football like Gordon Ferguson. James attended the University of Washington for two years. He and his wife Frances M. had two sons: James born in 1932 and David born in 1935. David served aboard the USS James Kyes, named after his father, and died in May, 2007.
In November, 1936, James' wife and two sons sailed from Honolulu to San Francisco. In 1940, the family lived in Medford, Massachusetts.
Cenotaph Memory Marker at Arlington National Cemetery
Notes on event
On 24 Dec, 1943, the American hunter-killer Task Group 21.14, formed around USS Card (CVE 11) was spotted by a German reconnaissance aircraft and the wolfpack Borkum was ordered to attack. The carrier had a narrow escape when three FAT torpedoes fired by U-415 (Neide) missed her at 01.43 hours. The same U-boat also missed USS Decatur (DD 341) with a Gnat.
At 05.05 hours, U-275 fired a Gnat at USS Leary (DD 158) and hit her on the starboard side in the after engine room. A second Gnat fired by U-382 (Zorn) at 05.21 hours missed the already sinking destroyer. She sank after a huge internal explosion within one minute about 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre. The survivors were picked up by USS Schenck (DD 159), which found U-645 (Ferro) later the same day, evaded a torpedo and sank the U-boat with depth charges.
Visit the virtual cemetery of USS Leary (DD 158) " Click Here "
Commander, James E. Kyes MIA/KIA Official Date of Death: 25-Dec-44
Graduate US. Naval Academy, Class of 1930
Hometown: Everett Washington
Wife, Mrs. Frances Melvina Kyes
Service # O-063278
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Captain: (Cdr J.E. Kyes, lost)
Ship: USS Leary (DD 158) Loss Date: 24-Dec-43
Mission: Convoy escort
Location: 45° 15'N, 21° 40'W - Grid BE 7343 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre
Fate: Sunk by U-275 (Helmut Bork)
Complement: 176 officers and men (97 dead and 79 survivors).
From researcher Kathy Franz:
James graduated from Everett high school in 1924. "A growing knowledge of material things." Entered, 1920; Scientific. Commencement Speaker "Economics of America"; Olympic Club; Service League; Honor Roll; Junior Farce; Assistant Business Manager Nesika yearbook. Prophecy: Mr. James Kyes and his wife, formerly Lucie Wilson, gave a reception in honor of the First Lady of the Land and her husband. Nickname: Jimmy. Pal: Three Royal Bums. Prominent Feature: My ears. Inspiration: Miss Taylor. Aspiration: To play football like Gordon Ferguson. James attended the University of Washington for two years. He and his wife Frances M. had two sons: James born in 1932 and David born in 1935. David served aboard the USS James Kyes, named after his father, and died in May, 2007.
In November, 1936, James' wife and two sons sailed from Honolulu to San Francisco. In 1940, the family lived in Medford, Massachusetts.
Cenotaph Memory Marker at Arlington National Cemetery
Notes on event
On 24 Dec, 1943, the American hunter-killer Task Group 21.14, formed around USS Card (CVE 11) was spotted by a German reconnaissance aircraft and the wolfpack Borkum was ordered to attack. The carrier had a narrow escape when three FAT torpedoes fired by U-415 (Neide) missed her at 01.43 hours. The same U-boat also missed USS Decatur (DD 341) with a Gnat.
At 05.05 hours, U-275 fired a Gnat at USS Leary (DD 158) and hit her on the starboard side in the after engine room. A second Gnat fired by U-382 (Zorn) at 05.21 hours missed the already sinking destroyer. She sank after a huge internal explosion within one minute about 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre. The survivors were picked up by USS Schenck (DD 159), which found U-645 (Ferro) later the same day, evaded a torpedo and sank the U-boat with depth charges.
Visit the virtual cemetery of USS Leary (DD 158) " Click Here "
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Entered the service from Washington.
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