World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Thomas E. Baumgarten
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Corpus Christi, Texas
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Radioman Third Class. Inducted into the United States Navy July 5, 1940 at Houston, Texas. He completed basic training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, CA. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Honolulu Cruiser, CL-48 for duty as a Naval Aviator. The Cruiser and her shipmates operated out of the Espiritu Santo Naval Base Location: Espiritu Island, South Pacific Theater of Operations. Thursday, June 11, 1942 he was reported missing in action, during his participation in a flight mission. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. His missing in action status was amended to read, Killed in action, Saturday, June 12, 1943. In his Memory and Honor, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.