WWII Roll of Honour,
HistoryNT,
Second World War, 1939-1945,
Date
2021,
Place of birth
California (USA),
Place of enlistment
California (USA),
Date of enlistment
1937-03-10,
Nation of service
United States of America,
Service
United States Navy,
Unit
USS Peary (DD-226),
Rank
Chief Yeoman,
Service number
385-40-86,
Next of kin
Gladys Jean Senyohl - Wife,
Date of death
1942-02-22,
Place of death
HMAHS Manunda,
Place of burial
Sea,
Memorial
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial,
Cultural heritage
American,
Honours and awards
Purple Heart,
Biographical notes
Eugene Reid Senyohl was born in California.
He died at 19:00 hours on 22 February 1942 aboard the Hospital ship Manunda, and was buried at sea at 10 am at Lat 17°24' S. Long. 117° 45' E. Senyohl was survived by his wife Gladys Jean Senyohl of 1419 Vinyard, Los Angeles, California.,
History
He enlisted on 10 March 1937 in California. Senyohl served on the cruiser Northampton from October 1939 to November 1941, then transferred to the Republic. He was serving as Chief Yeoman (385-40-86) on board the Peary on 19 February 1942.
The Peary had endured a dramatic voyage to Australia in December 1941, after sustaining damage in a bombing attack on the Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines. The crew camouflaged the ship with green paint borrowed from the Army, and took refuge during daylight by anchoring close to the islands and covering the ship with palm fronds. Many of the Peary's crew contracted malaria on this journey and eight men eventually died from the disease. They were attacked on 26 and 27 December, but avoided damage by violent manoeuvring. The Peary arrived in Darwin on 3 January.
In January the Peary was operating on anti-submarine patrol, convoy and escort missions; while escorting troops from Darwin to Timor, the ship was again attacked. They returned to Darwin, refuelled and set off again with the cruiser USS Houston. A fruitless submarine chase exhausted the Peary's fuel, and she returned to Darwin in the early hours of 19 February.
The Peary was hit early in the bombing of Darwin, and appears to have sunk within 40 minutes. The fifth bomb to hit the Peary caused the fatal damage that sent her to the bottom and it was said to be the last bomb dropped that day on the harbour. The Peary's machine guns continued to fire at the Japanese planes even as she sank. Eighty-eight officers and men, including Captain Bermingham, were killed; twenty of the fifty-seven survivors were wounded.
In December 1942 the Peary was awarded one battle star for service in World War II.,