Edgar C. Durfee
Fireman, First Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 2999692
Entered the Service from: Illinois
Missing in action, lost at sea: 02 March 1942, U.S.S. Pillsbury (DD-227) Indian Ocean, approximately 200 miles east of Christmas Island (14º30'S, 106º30'E)
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Officially declared dead: 25 November 1945

Edgar Clark Durfee is the son of Sidney Ray Durfee & Florence Emily Clark.

1930 US Census: Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska - Edgar C. Durfee (9 Iowa)
1937 Ottawa, Illinois, City Directory, Edgar C Durfee Student, 207 Douglas

U.S. World War II Navy Muster Roll: 31 Dec 1939 - U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) AS Enlisted on 12 September 1939; date first received on board 02 December 1939, from NTS Great Lakes, Illinois for duty.

1940 Ottawa, Illinois, City Directory, Edgar C Durfee United States Navy, 207 Douglas
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U.S. World War II Navy Muster Roll: 31 Jan 1940 - U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) AS Enlisted on 12 September 1939, Chicago; Change of rating to F3c.

28 Feb 1940 - U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F.3c Enlisted on 12 September 1939, Chicago; Transferred 25 February 1940 to USS Dent FFT USS Henderson FFT ASTA.

27 Mar 1940 – U.S.S. Henderson: Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F3c, Enlisted on 12 September 1939, Chicago; received 15 March 1940 from the USS DENT FFT ASTA for duty.

27 Apr 1940 – U.S.S. Henderson: Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F3c, Enlisted on 12 September 1939, Chicago; transferred 24 April 1940 to the USS PILLSBURY for duty.

28 Apr 1940 - U.S.S. Pillsbury (227): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F.3c Enlisted on 12 September 1939, Chicago, Illinois; received 24 April 1940 from HENDERSON for duty.

30 Jun 1940 - U.S.S. Pillsbury (227): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F.3c Enlisted on 12 September 1939; date first received on board 24 April 1940.

30 Sep 1940, 31 Dec 1940 - U.S.S. Pillsbury (227): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F.2c Enlisted on 12 September 1939; date first received on board 24 April 1940.

31 Mar 1941, 30 Jun 1941 - U.S.S. Pillsbury (227): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F.2c Enlisted on 12 September 1939; date first received on board 24 April 1940.

31 Jul 1941 - U.S.S. Pillsbury (227): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F.2c Enlisted on 12 September 1939, Chicago, Illinois; transferred 10 July 1941 to USNH Canacao, PI for treatment.

31 Oct 1941 - Black Hawk (AD-9): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F.2c Enlisted on 12 September 1939, Chicago, Illinois; received 07 October 1941 from US NAV HOSP, Canacao, P.I.; transferred 08 October 1941 to USS Pillsbury (227).

The U.S.S. "Pillsbury (DD-227) spent most of her career in China and the Philippines as part of the US Asiatic Fleet. On 27 November 1941, with the Japanese threatening American bases in the Philippines, Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Commander of the US Asiatic Fleet, ordered Pillsbury and a number of other warships to steam to Borneo. After hostilities began on 7 December 1941, Pillsbury (along with Dutch and Australian naval vessels) operated out of Balikpapan, Borneo, on reconnaissance sorties and on anti-submarine patrols. As the Japanese advanced throughout the Pacific, these ships were moved once again to Surabaya, Java. From there, units of the US Asiatic Fleet searched for the advancing Japanese Navy. Source: http://navalwarfare.blogspot.com/2008/10/uss-pillsbury-dd-227.html

U.S. World War II Navy Muster Roll: 20 Dec 1941 - U.S.S. Pillsbury (227): Edgar C Durfee (2999692) F.2c Enlisted on 12 September 1939, Chicago, Illinois; received 12 December 1941 from Recsta (Temp) Manila for duty.

"Working with US Navy, British and Dutch Destroyer forces to interdict, harass and disrupt Japanese supply convoys and amphibious landings throughout December, January and February 1942, the Pillsbury and her crew got their first taste of combat in the Battle of Badoeng Strait on February 18th, 1942, Pillsbury's gunners sent several 4-inch rounds into the Japanese Destroyer HIJMS Michishio before retiring from the fray and steaming to Tjilatjap, Java in company with her fellow Destroyer USS Parrott (DD-218). Low on ammunition and fuel, the Pillsbury nevertheless maintained an active anti-submarine screen over the approaches to Tjilatjap for the rest of February, but due to her lack of ammunition she stayed in port during the disastrous ABDA defeats at the Battle of Java Sea and the Battle of Sunda Strait. With the successful and now unopposed amphibious landing of Japanese forces on Java taking place shortly after the defeat of ABDA forces, the Pillsbury and many other US Navy vessels were ordered to evacuate the area for either Australia or Ceylon." Source: http://wikimapia.org/18949188/Wreck-of-USS-Pillsbury-DD-227

There are no US logs or battle reports giving the details of the action in which Pillsbury (227), Asheville (PG-21) and Edsall (DD-219) were sunk, and their fates were mysterious until after the war when Japanese logs could be examined. A powerful force of Japanese ships was operating to the south of Java to prevent the escape of Allied ships from that area. The Japanese force consisted of four battleships, five cruisers of Cruiser Division 4, the aircraft carrier Sōryū and the destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 4.

"Standing out of Tjilatjap under the cover of darkness in the early morning of March 2nd, the Pillsbury managed to evade the numerous Japanese surface vessels in the area and cleared Java for open waters and Australia shortly before daybreak. Unfortunately for the Pillsbury, a formidable force of Japanese Battleships, Cruisers and Destroyers were operating between Java, Bali, Timor and Australia aimed at interdicting any ships which were fleeing the area for Australia. While steaming under spotty cloud cover some 500 miles South of Java, the Pillsbury was overflown by a Japanese floatplane which quickly flashed a report of a fleeing "Marblehead Class Cruiser" to the Japanese Fleet, prompting the Heavy Cruisers HIJMS Atago and HIJMS Takao to detach and intercept. Likely visible to wary lookouts aboard the Pillsbury as dusk began to give way to night, the two Cruisers made their world-best top speed of 35.5 knots and chased down the similarly fast Destroyer, however the Pillsbury eventually fell into range of the Cruisers 8-inch main batteries and was taken under fire shortly before 2200hrs. Though she was hopelessly outgunned, the Pillsbury's crew returned fire with their 4-inch guns and sent her remaining torpedoes at their attackers, but the Japanese Cruisers elected to remain out of range and lob shells at the helpless Destroyer. Struck repeatedly, the Pillsbury began to lose headway and was overhauled at 2225hrs, after which the Atago and Takao proceeded to fire broadside after broadside into the Pillsbury until she was a barely floating mass of flaming wreckage. As the two ships departed the area without bothering to rescue any survivors, the USS Pillsbury sank at this location with all 114 of her crew at 2232hrs on March 2nd, 1942."
Source: http://wikimapia.org/18949188/Wreck-of-USS-Pillsbury-DD-227

Read more about the U.S.S. Pillsbury (DD-227).

Fireman, First Class, U.S. Navy, Edgar Clark Durfee went down with the ship. It sunk approximately 200 miles east of Christmas Island (14º30'S, 106º30'E).

U.S., Navy Casualties, Illinois Dead - Durfee, Edgar Clark , Fireman 1c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Ray Durfee, 1207 Douglas St., Ottawa

Edgar C. Durfee also has a memorial in the Mount Bloom Cemetery, Tiskilwa, Bureau County, Illinois.