USC NROTC ALUMNI LEAGUE

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Fallen Heroes

The League recognizes those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country.  An alumnus who has died while serving the Unites States of America while in performance of official duties in either a military or civilian capacity are recognized here as the Fallen Heroes of the USC NROTC Unit.

 LTJG Kendall H Morse, USNR, 1945

  • KIA 30 July 1945
  • USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58  Philippine Sea and sank in 12 minutes. Of 1,195 crewmen aboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship.  The sinking of Indianapolis was the greatest loss of life from a single ship lost at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.
  • On 20 December 2018, the crew of Indianapolis was collectively awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
 LTJG Donald V. Wanee, USN, 1945

  • KIA 2 October 1950 
  • Don Wanee was XO on the USS Magpie (AMS 25) when Magpie struck a mine during a clearing operation off Chusan Po, South Korea on 1 October 1950.
  • The ship’s forward portion exploded and the after section settled by the head. Twenty one men were lost. Don was listed as Missing in Action while engaged with the enemy. He was presumed dead on 2 October 1950.
2ndLt Thomas H. Johnston, USMC, 1948

           

  • KIA 17 August 1950
  • Awarded Distinguished Service Cross posthumously
  • The award citation reads: Presented “for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Provisional Marine Brigade (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, in action against enemy aggressor forces west of Yongsan, Korea, on 17 August 1950. At approximately 1600, the First Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was attacking to seize heavily defended Obangi Ridge, the enemy’s main line of resistance. While scaling the precipitous slopes, Lieutenant Johnston’s platoon was pinned downed by heavy enemy machine gun fire from the hill’s summit, preventing further advance. Lieutenant Johnston, passing through the forward elements of his platoon where he obtained hand grenades, and knowing full well the hazards of his undertaking, fearlessly made his way forward alone through intense fire to destroy the machine gun nest. Succeeding in attaining the crest, he threw a grenade which silenced the hostile position before he fell mortally wounded from a series of exploding enemy grenades. Lieutenant Johnston, by his conspicuous gallantry and heroic self sacrifices, was an inspiration to his men and contributed immeasurably to the final capture of the critical ridge, reflecting the highest credit on himself and the esteemed traditions of the military service.”
LT Dennis W. Peterson, USN, 1962
  • KIA 17 July 1967
  • Dennis Peterson was commissioned in November 1962 at USC.  He received his wings as a Naval Aviator in March 1964. 
  • Dennis was assigned to HS-2 which deployed on USS Hornet (CVS-12) as part of the CVSG -57 Air Group.  He was on his second WESTPAC deployment to the Gulf of Tonkin. SSSC missions were somewhat curtailed, but the squadron was frequently tasked with SAR (search and rescue) missions over North Vietnam.  In July 1967, a SAR mission was dispatched to rescue a downed Air Force pilot. Dennis took off from the USS Hornet piloting an SH-3A Sea King helicopter and flew to Ha Nam Province. Dennis and crew were shot down by NVA antiair guns and all perished. The NVA captured the downed pilot and he never returned to the USA.

            By CAPT Bob Brockmeier ’63

LT Mathew T. Moneymaker, USN, 1992
  • KIA on 14 November 1999 during Operation Southern Watch (Iraq)
  • The lives of Lieutenant Mathew Moneymaker and Lieutenant Mike Meschke, his navigator, tragically were cut short when their S-3B Viking aircraft crashed moments after takeoff from the USS John F Kennedy (CV-67).  The Kennedy Battle Group was steaming in the north Arabian Sea to enforce no-fly zone sanctions against Iraq at the time. Rescue helicopters recovered their bodies minutes after the crash.
1stLt Shaun M. Blue, USMC, 2004
  • KIA on 16 April 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • Shaun Blue was on his second tour to Iraq. He was leading a platoon from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in the Fallujah area of Al Anbar province. He was killed while riding in the passenger seat of a Humvee that was hit by a roadside bomb.