Edward Grover DeLong was born August 20, 1915, to Arthur E. and Sarah DeLong. Edward attended State College for a year before entering the Navy Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. After graduating, Edward entered active service in the U.S. Navy in 1937. Edward married Helen Ris on August 26, 1939, at Stanford University in California.

Lt. DeLong was sent overseas in August of 1941. On January 30, 1942, the Lead Daily Call reported, "Edward DeLong, lieutenant, junior grade, from Springfield, S.D., returned with ten naval men from a perilous mission behind the Japanese lines on the Bataan peninsula on the night of January 18, accomplished their mission and then found themselves faced with the job of returning individually to their base."

The article goes on to say that while trying to get back to base, DeLong encountered a native with a bayoneted rifle. After a moment of startled silence, the native spoke first, saying, "Hello, Joe," which DeLong said, "were the sweetest words I ever heard."

On September 25, 1947, the Navy Department wrote to Mrs. DeLong; the letter said, in part:

It is with deepest regret you are now informed that information has been received showing that your husband was killed in the garden of Lie Boen Yat, Saris Manado, the Celebes on 2 July 1942. According to evidence received … your husband, together with a fellow officer, was attemptingto escape from Mindanao Island, Philippine Islands, in a native boat. They were captured on the Island of Bangka, North Celebes, and were taken by the Japanese to Manado, where they were executed and buried in a common grave.

*Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Edward Grover DeLong (0-27903), Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while Commanding Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-ONE (PT-31), (Code Name Trabejdor), Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3), in action against the enemy from 25 February 1942 through 10 April 1942, in the Philippine Islands. While exposed to frequent horizontal and dive bombing attacks by enemy Japanese air forces, Lieutenant DeLong directed the anti-aircraft battery of his ship and conducted operations of strategic importance in the Manila Bay area involving hazardous missions such as to bring great credit to his command and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during World War II

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Edward Grover DeLong (NSN: 0-27903), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while Commanding Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-ONE (PT-31), (Code Name Trabejdor), Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3), in action against the enemy while participating in a raid on 20 January 1942, in the Philippine Islands. Having grounded in Subic Bay as a result of engine failure due to gasoline sabotage, Lieutenant DeLong directed the transportation of his crew by night, through reef-studded water to the enemy shore, then, to prevent his vessel from falling into enemy hands, he destroyed the boat and torpedoes aboard and swam ashore. He and his party, armed only with three .45-caliber pistols, proceeded to a village, avoiding the enemy offensive against that village, and with Japanese soldiers within 200 yards of the beach, embarked in two bancas and made good their escape. When the bancas capsized in heavy seas and wind, with the men exhausted, Lieutenant DeLong, by his capable leadership, righted the bancas and so encouraged his men that without the aid of paddles or sails and by the use of boards alone, they continued to a point where they disembarked safely. Lieutenant DeLong's gallant actions and intrepid leadership were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 311 (February 1943)

Heroes of the United States Naval Academy
September 22, 2019
"Let Us Never Forget" Prisoner of War, Killed in Captivity, USNA 1937, Lieutenant Edward Grover DeLong, USN
Lieutenant DeLong was a highly decorated PT Boat sailor during the early stages of the Pacific War. Some of us will remember the movie “They Were Expendable” starring John Wayne. Lieutenant Delong was a featured character in that movie. This is his story.

Edward Grover DeLong was born August 20, 1915 in Springfield South Dakota, to Arthur Eugene and Sarah Louise DeLong. He attended Southern Norman State College for a year before entering the Navy Academy at Annapolis, Maryland on June 30. 1933. He was nominated from South Dakota. Midshipman DeLong graduated 108 of 323 Midshipmen on June 3, 1937. In the 1937 Lucky Bag, Midshipman DeLong’s roommate wrote: Fate had its way, and a third alternate appointment took Grover from a co-ed college and made him one of ’37. Endowed with an admirable ability of meeting people, especially the fairer sex, he carries on a voluminous correspondence. During study hour, Ed is usually seen with pipe in one hand, pen in the other, and photographic likeness before him. Music is his weakness, be it via the radio, choir, musical clubs, or French horn. He is often at home with a Sabatini novel or an engineering magazine. Versatility and steadiness have made him a splendid roommate and friend. On June 10, 1937, Ensign DeLong was assigned to battleship USS Colorado (BB-45). By July 1, 1939, Ensign DeLong was assigned to destroyer USS Chandler (DD-206). On August 26, 1939, LTJG DeLong married Helen Ris at Stanford University in California. They had no children. From July 14 to August 22, 1941, LTJG DeLong attended Packard Engine School in Detroit Michigan. In August 1941 Lieutenant DeLong was sent to the Pacific as Commanding Officer of Motor Torpedo Boat (PT-31) of Motor Torpedo Squadron 3 (MTB-3). In January 1942, Lieutenant DeLong participated in the historic raids on Subic Bay which sank or damaged several enemy ships. During the night of January 18, 1942, PT-34 commanded by Squadron Commander, Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley (USNA 1933) along with PT-31, proceeded to the mouth of Subic Bay and to the entrance of Binanga Bay. PT-31 and Lieutenant DeLong drifted and run aground due to contaminated fuel. PT-34 spotted by lights and fired on by a field gun, proceeded into Subic Bay alone and spotted a two-masted freighter. Firing two torpedoes, but one stuck in the tube and failed to launch. The other launched but exploded prematurely a minute later. PT-34 departed under fire from shore guns. The torpedo was sticking halfway out of the tube and chief torpedoman John Martino CTM, climbed onto it and stuffed toilet paper into the impeller blades to prevent the warhead from arming from the heavy surf. Four hours later, the torpedo fell harmlessly into the sea and the boat returned safely. Meanwhile Lieutenant Delong and PT-31 ordeal was just unfolding. PT-31 had scarcely started its slow patrol along the eastern shore of Subic Bay before it was in trouble. The now familiar wax deposit clogged the strainers of both wing engines. Then the center-engine fresh water cooling system became air bound. Helpless, PT-31 had drifted on a reef. Then a 3-inch gun near Ilinin Point started firing at the PT-31. Lieutenant DeLong walked out the anchor and repeatedly attempted to back off. After 3 hours his reverse gears burned out and his boat was still aground. He gave the order to abandon ship. The men removed the engine room canopy, lashed mattresses to it, and lowered it over the side. Ensign William H. Plant, USNR, the second officer, shoved off on the raft with the 11 men of the crew, while Lieutenant DeLong remained behind to destroy his boat. He chopped holes in the gasoline tanks, damaged the hull with hand grenades, and set the boat afire. Then he took to the water. For an hour and a half, while his boat burned and exploded, Lieutenant DeLong tried to find the raft. At last he clambered across the reef to the beach. Shortly after dawn he found tracks in the sand half a mile to the south. He followed them to a clump of bushes where he found nine of his men. Ensign Plant, Rudolph Ballough, MM1c, and William R. Dean, QM3c, were missing: they were never seen again. Just to the south, near the village of Moron, Japanese forces were attacking. Japanese planes were overhead. "During the morning," Lieutenant DeLong reported, "the infantry fire discontinued and the artillery bursts drew further north and west, leading me to believe that the Japanese were retreating. If this continued I was determined to make a run for our own lines around the beach at about 1500, believing that our chances would be better during daylight. In the meantime, I had planned as an alternate method, obtaining two or three bancas and making our way by night around into Bagac Bay to beach at dawn. From our vantage point I had already spotted one large banca about one-half mile toward Moron. We had obtained canvas for use as sail and had stripped barbed wire entanglements for rigging. "Shortly before 1500 our artillery dropped back toward Moron and I abandoned any hope of making it around the beach. At about 1530 there being no planes in the air I sent two men out to investigate the bancas. "At this time Japanese soldiers could be heard to the eastward and could be seen occasionally to the northward and along the beach in the vicinity of the mouth of the stream north of us. Four men were investigating a banca about a half mile north of us. My men were under armed, having only six pistols and one rifle among the ten men, so I had ordered that unless we were rushed by superior numbers we were to allow any scouts to come in to the clump and then club them with the butt of a pistol or rifle. "At about 1700 the two men returned and reported that the two bancas appeared to be in good condition but required out-rigging. At this time we sighted from our tree lookout what appeared to be two light armored cars or light tanks about one mile north heading down the trail toward the stream north of us. The bridge over this stream was partially broken down as I had been up there earlier in the afternoon looking unsuccessfully for water.” "At twilight we left our clump, took interval and made our way around to the bancas, rigged them and shoved off at 2000 with Japanese soldiers at this time within 200 yards of the beach.”
"We had found two paddles, one board and two shovels for paddling plus the gear for rigging a sail if the wind was favorable. I also had obtained a tow line to tow the small banca.” "When we shoved off I wished to get well clear of the beach before attempting sailing. At about 2100 both bancas capsized and practically all equipment was lost. After righting the bancas we had two bailers and two paddles left between the two bancas. With this we managed to become more or less seaworthy and proceeded out well clear of Panibatujan Point then set course approximately southeast toward Napo Point with the small banca towing the larger one.” "At about 0130, I made the first attempt to round Napo Point but hit a very strong head wind. We continued to head around until about 0300 when my men were exhausted and we were barely holding our own so I decided to chance a landing at dark. We pulled in the lee and I picked the point for a landing.” "We landed at about 0330 in the vicinity of Napo Point, beached the bancas, crossed a barbed wire entanglement and found ourselves against a steep cliff. I kept my men right there until dawn when we were spotted by Philippine Army forces and identified ourselves. The spot I had picked for a landing was such that at high tide it was impossible to move along the beach and there was only one trail leading up over the cliff.” "We were taken to Captain Geo. H. Cockburn, 2nd Bn., 92nd Inf., 91st Div., U.S.A., who gave us food and water and arranged for transportation for us back to Mariveles, where we arrived at about 1730 on January 20, 1942." On January 30, 1942, the Lead Daily Call reported, “Edward DeLong, lieutenant, junior grade, from Springfield, South Dakota, returned with ten naval men from a perilous mission behind the Japanese lines on the Bataan peninsula on the night of January 18, 1942 accomplished their mission and then found themselves faced with the job of returning individually to their base.” The article goes on to say that while trying to get back to base, Lieutenant DeLong encountered a native with a bayoneted rifle. After a moment of startled silence, the native spoke first, saying, “Hello, Joe,” which Lieutenant DeLong said, “were the sweetest words I ever heard.”

Silver Star
Awarded posthumously for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Edward Grover DeLong (NSN: 0-27903), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while Commanding Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-ONE (PT-31), (Code Name Trabejdor), Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3), in action against the enemy while participating in a raid on 20 January 1942, in the Philippine Islands. Having grounded in Subic Bay as a result of engine failure due to gasoline sabotage, Lieutenant DeLong directed the transportation of his crew by night, through reef-studded water to the enemy shore, then, to prevent his vessel from falling into enemy hands, he destroyed the boat and torpedoes aboard and swam ashore. He and his party, armed only with three .45-caliber pistols, proceeded to a village, avoiding the enemy offensive against that village, and with Japanese soldiers within 200 yards of the beach, embarked in two bancas and made good their escape. When the bancas capsized in heavy seas and wind, with the men exhausted, Lieutenant DeLong, by his capable leadership, righted the bancas and so encouraged his men that without the aid of paddles or sails and by the use of boards alone, they continued to a point where they disembarked safely. Lieutenant DeLong's gallant actions and intrepid leadership were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 311 (February 1943)
Action Date: 20-Jan-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Commanding Officer
Regiment: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 (MTB-3)
Division: Motor Torpedo Boat 31 (PT-31)

When the Japanese closed in on Manila and the United States forces were forced backed up on Bataan and then later Corregidor, Lieutenant DeLong’s Motor Torpedo Squadron went with them. Lieutenant DeLong was active in evacuating troops and civilians from Bataan to Corregidor when that peninsula fell to the Japanese. On the night of January 24, 1942, Lieutenant Bulkeley and DeLong returned to Subic Bay. Because of lack of fuel they took only one boat, Lieutenant George Cox's PT 41. Just to the west of the bay's entrance, in a cove near Sampaloc Point, they sighted what appeared to be an anchored transport, 4,000 to 6,000 tons, of new construction with streamlined bridge and comparatively small stack. With Lieutenant Cox on the wheel and Lieutenant DeLong at the torpedo director, PT-41 closed to 800 yards and fired one torpedo. Under heavy fire from the transport, PT 41 held course for another 300 yards until Lieutenant DeLong let go a second torpedo. The tail of this one struck the deck on leaving the tube, but the first was seen to hit amidships. Everyone aboard saw and felt the explosion, and saw debris falling about PT-41.
As PT-41 turned hard left, strafing the transport, a shore battery of four to six 3-inch guns opened fire. Shells splashed on both sides, astern and ahead. PT-41 zigzagged out to sea at top speed, clearing by only 20 yards an obstruction net at the entrance of the cove that could have held the little boat like a fly in a web. Maintenance of nightly patrols demanded that PT-32 boat, with her hull held together by a jury rig of wires and braces, and top speed of 22 knots, take her regular turn. Her skipper, LTJG Vincent E. Schumacher, got PT-32 underway on the night of February 1, 1942 with Lieutenant DeLong aboard as officer-in-tactical command, for Bataan coastal patrol. At 2130 a large ship, apparently a cruiser, was sighted 5,000 yards dead ahead, to the northward. It soon was apparent that 22 knots was insufficient to close the range. The cruiser pulled away steadily for half an hour in the direction of Subic Bay. Then it slowed and turned eastward, toward the Bataan shore. PT-32 then closed rapidly. At 5,000 yards the cruiser caught PT-32 in its searchlight and lobbed a two-gun salvo. The shells, estimated by LTJG Schumacher as 6-inch, exploded in the water 500 yards ahead. PT-32 fired its starboard torpedo. A second salvo landed 200 yards ahead; a third 200 yards astern. PT-32 fired its port torpedo and retired at top speed, about 25 knots now that the boat was rid of the weight of the torpedoes. For two minutes, during which two-gun salvos continued to drop around the PT, there was no apparent increase in range. LTJG Schumacher reported, "There was an explosion below the searchlight, definitely not gunfire, and debris came up into the searchlight beam. There was a pause in firing although the searchlight continued on and the ship apparently slowed as the range started opening. This was undoubtedly the second torpedo hitting as the PT-32 drew away indicating the ship had slowed to about 15 knots. Fire was resumed and was excellent continuing until the PT-32 succeeded in losing the searchlight about 2230 by a hard right turn." It is impossible to state with certainty the results of this action. It appears definite that no Japanese ship was sunk. But Japanese records do show that on February 1, 1942 a Japanese minelayer, Yaeyama, suffered minor damage in Subic Bay. While this was attributed to shore fire, it is possible that the real cause was PT-32's attack. When it became evident that no immediate help was forthcoming from the states and the defenders of the island were going to be forced to surrender some of the people were taken off the island in planes. The remnants of MTB Squadron 3, under Lieutenant John Bulkeley in PT-41, proceeded to attack enemy ships in Subic Bay. Finally, as the Japanese closed in, Lieutenant Bulkeley and the remaining boats picked up General Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor and headed south. Lieutenant DeLong went out on one of the planes that was forced down on Mindanao with engine trouble and while the mechanics were repairing the motor, the others went back into the woods as a precaution against capture. The plane went on without them. They evaded the Japanese until late in the summer. While attempting an escape in a small native boat they were captured on the Island of Bangka, North Celebes and taken prisoner to Manado, where on July 2, 1942 they were executed in the garden of Lie Boen Yat, Saris Manado and buried in a common grave.

Navy Cross
Awarded posthumously for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Edward Grover DeLong (NSN: 0-27903), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while Commanding Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-ONE (PT-31), (Code Name Trabejdor), Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3), in action against the enemy from 25 February 1942 through 10 April 1942, in the Philippine Islands. While exposed to frequent horizontal and dive bombing attacks by enemy Japanese air forces, Lieutenant DeLong directed the anti-aircraft battery of his ship and conducted operations of strategic importance in the Manila Bay area involving hazardous missions such as to bring great credit to his command and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Action Date: February 25 - April 10, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Commanding Officer
Regiment: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 (MTB-3)
Division: Motor Torpedo Boat 31 (PT-31)
In 1949, Lieutenant DeLong was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Virginia, Section 8, Site 28.

Lieutenant DeLong is remembered in Memorial Hall at the United States Naval Academy where his name is engraved under the “DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP” flag honoring those alumni killed in action.
Torpedo Motor Squadron 31 were featured in the book “They Were Expendable” by W. L. White, and a movie by the same name starring John Wayne.

Contributor: Sue Wiedemer Jones (48967649) • [email protected]