1945 Classmate Who Died in World War II
Why our knowledge of late-war casualties is limited
Because the list on which we have based our WWII Memorial pages was published by Queen Anne journalism students in the spring of 1945 ,months before the end of the war in both Europe and the Pacific, our recognition of Gold Star Grizzlies is probably incomplete. Perhaps Leo Bateman is the only one from the Class of '45 who died in WWII, but it's possible there are others who, like Leo, left school early and were killed after the publication of the roster of Queen Anne servicepeople. It is more likely that there are Grizzlies from earlier classes who did not die until after the KUAY students had completed their work. If so, unless relatives and others now provide information, we will be unable to fulfill our goal of memorializing all of Queen Anne's WWII casualties.
Leo Kenneth Bateman
Sophomore year (1943)
photo. Leo is not in later
yearbooks.
Following is the letter to Leo's family from Capt. Newton Cannon, Medical Detachment, 128th Infantry, 32nd Division, informing them of Leo's death:
"Dear Mr. Bateman:
"Greater love hath no man, than that he lay down his life for a friend."
"The loss of a loved one is always a great blow, but you have the satisfaction
of knowing that your son Leo gave his life for the men he served, who were truly
his friends. It was while going forward to give first aid to a wounded man that
he was killed. Leo's company attacked a strong enemy position on Corkscrew Ridge
near Limon, Leyte, P.I. Leo gave first aid to the wounded in his usual quiet,
efficient way. The sergeant of his platoon advanced beyond the main body and was
wounded by machine gun fire. Without regard for his own personal safety, Leo
went forward to administer first aid and was struck by machine gun fire. He died
soon after and suffered very little pain. He was given a Christian burial by the
Chaplain of his unit with the military honors due him in the American cemetery
overlooking beautiful Gangara Bay on Leyte, P.I. While our loss can in no way
compare with your own, the men he served, the members of the detachment and I,
all feel a deep personal loss. Leo was popular with all who knew him and always
did his work in an excellent manner.The war department will supply you with any
desired information, but, if there is any way in which I can be of assistance, I
shall be only too glad to help you."
"Newton A. Cannon Capt M.C."
According to his sister Connie, Leo was later reburied with full military honors in the cemetery on Aurora Ave. in Seattle.
June 21, 2004: Thanks to a letter from Connie (Louise) Bateman Johnson, '40, we have been able to move her brother Leo from our list of unfound Gold Star Grizzlies to the 1945 page. Leo died at the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines (late 1944) before his class graduated. Below is a quote from her letter, and, below that, links to information about the Battle of Leyte and it's significance in the War in the Pacific as well as links to the associated naval battle, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history, the battle in which the suicidal kamikaze aerial attacks were first used by the Japanese.
Links
A famous aspect of the Battle of Leyte was Gen. Douglas McArthur's return to to the Philippines on Oct. 20, 1944, the first day of the American invasion, wading through the surf and declaring , "I have returned..." (McArthur had left the Philppines on March 11, 1942, after which 31,000 remaining American military were killed or captured in Bataan or on Corregidor, leading to the infamous Bataan Death March.) You may read not only the military facts and successes of these two famous battles land and naval battles but also the political/strategic overviews with some criticism for various leading figures as well as praise for the troops and sailors who fought there.
The U.S. Army's detailed account of the campaign from Oct. 20 to Dec. 31, 1944, plus a summary of events before and after.
The PBS summary of the Battle of Leyte in 4 short pages with clear color-coded maps.
Worldwar2history.info's one-page summary of the Battle of Leyte.
Grolier's one-page summary of the naval Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Kilroywashere.org's brief treatment of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, including the first use of kamikaze aircraft.
OnWar.com's one-paragraph helpful summaries of the Leyte battles as well as of other famous invasions before and after.