1st Lieutenant Robert M Whelan
Robert Michael Whelan was born on December 20th, 1920 in New Haven, Connecticut to Michael Whelan and Catherine Green as their second child. Robert attended local schools until the 4th Grade, when he left to support his family. Sadly, his father passed away in 1938 which left the majority of family income coming from him working as a landscaper. Shortly after 1940, he got a better paying job with the American Steel and Wire Company, but that was cut short when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and plunged the United States into World War Two. Robert did not join up immediately and instead finished his employment near the end of 1942. Finally, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 10th and was sent to Parris Island to complete boot camp. Early next year, PFC Whelan was selected to complete Officer Candidate School and was sent to the Infantry Training Camp at Camp Lejeune on April 30th to begin the process. After passing the initial tests, he joined Company H, 30th Candidates’ Class at Quantico on June 2nd, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on July 27th. Next up was three months of Reserve Officers’ Training and Whelan was chosen for Sea School in October that would land him aboard a ship for the war. Instruction consisted of Navy Anti Aircraft practice and then an additional Transport Quartermaster Course until March 1944. Finally, on April 5th, 2nd LT Whelan joined the USS James O’Hara at Pearl Harbor as their Transport Quartermaster and as the commander of Battery O, 3” .50 caliber anti aircraft station. Temporary duty with the 4th Marine Division followed as Whelan collaborated to take on supplies and inventory needed equipment for the upcoming invasion of Saipan.
Saipan
On May 29th, the USS James O’Hara got underway from Pearl Harbor with the Northern Attack Force, briefly stopped at Eniwetok, and arrived offshore Saipan carrying Marines from the 4th Division during the early hours of June 15th. When dawn came, the Navy began softening up the Japanese defenses and continued as the first wave of Marines made their way to the beach at 8:12 AM. 2nd LT Whelan’s ship disembarked their Marines which surged for the Yellow and Blue Beaches. 2nd LT Whelan began to oversee the unloading of cargo on the beaches once the assault waves were able to push inland though heavy enemy fire. Casualties from the bitter fighting were loaded on the USS James O’Hara along with a few enemy prisoners, and she left the island on the 17th to the northeast as the Battle of the Philippine Sea was won nearby. Whelan returned to Saipan after the wounded were transferred and completed unloading crucial supplies for the Marines, and left the following day for Pearl Harbor.
Anguar Island
In Hawaii, the USS James O’Hara completed further amphibious training, took on more cargo, and prepared itself for the next invasion. She steamed from the United States on August 12th for Guadalcanal where elements of the 81st Infantry Division were taken aboard. They left on September 8th and sailed for Anguar Island, part of the Palau Invasion. The island’s air base was to be captured to support the upcoming Philippine invasion. Arriving on September 15th, the USS James O’Hara transferred their troops to LVTs which promptly made way for the invasion beaches at 8:10 AM. The soldiers did not encounter serious resistance, thanks to the unlikely choice of landing beaches, but over the next few days battled a determined enemy. 2nd LT Whelan remained offshore until the 23rd when they retired to Manus, Admiralties.
Leyte
Waiting on the island was the 1st Cavalry Division which had helped capture the island a few months before. Now, they trained for the invasion of Leyte in the Philippines. Elements boarded the USS James O’Hara on October 12th and arrived in Leyte Gulf eight days later for the assault. Five waves of troops climbed over her side into LCVTs once she had closed within 7 miles of San Ricardo and landed at White Beach around 10:00 AM after a heavy preliminary bombardment. The army quickly moved off the beachhead and allowed for 2nd LT Whelan to oversee the transfer of cargo to the beach. By the end of the day, 476 tons of supplies had been dropped off from the USS James O’Hara, and left for Palau by nightfall. Two days after entering Kossol Passage, the Battle of Samar, part of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf, began with a serious surprise strike by the Japanese against the landing forces at Leyte. The USS James O’Hara was ordered into the vicinity to take on survivors from the USS Gambier Bay and St Lo which had been sunk and offloaded them on Guam on the 31st. Since the battle for Leyte was still raging, 2nd LT Whelan welcomed fresh reinforcements aboard at Manus and shuttled them to the Leyte beachhead between November 17th and 29th before sailing to Hollandia, New Guinea to prepare for the invasion of Luzon.
Luzon
USS James O’Hara arrived in early December, took on troops from the 6th Infantry Division, and left Sansapor on the 30th. She sailed through Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, and entered Lingayen Gulf on S-day: January 9th, 1945. Pre bombardments began at 7:00 AM sharp and an hour later, troops from 2nd LT Whelan’s ship were on the way ashore and met light resistance. After the green light was passed back, Whelan began his usual duty of unloading cargo throughout the day, and then retired to Guam. As per usual, the USS James O’Hara was not given time to rest before their next action. Whelan began working with the 3rd Marine Division to understand their supply structure and what equipment was needed for the Iwo Jima invasion. He began overseeing the loading of cargo and the 28th Replacement Draft aboard the ship on Guam from February 9th to 16th and then left the following day.
Iwo Jima
Since the 3rd Marine Division was initially designated as reserve for the battle, the USS James O’Hara stayed offshore when the invasion began on February 19th. The Marines landed under tremendous enemy presence and suffered immense casualties, not to mention a complete cluster of attempted resupply efforts during the first few days. It was only after the beachhead was secure and the Marines moved far enough inland when 2nd LT Whelan and his ship closed for the beach and unloaded replacements and needed supplies for the troops. Throughout the end of February to March 5th, she continued this duty along with taking aboard 400 wounded Marines before sailing to Guam to transfer them. After a promotion to 1st Lieutenant, Whelan accompanied her while shuttling reinforcements and equipment to New Caledonia, New Guinea, and the Philippines throughout May, June, and July before returning to the United States. Shortly after, Japan announced their surrender, prompting the USS James O’Hara to sail back to the Pacific and to Wakayama Harbor, Honshu, Japan for the occupation. LT Whelan eventually arrived in San Francisco on November 17th where he reverted into the Marine Corps Reserve, and was officially released from active duty on July 12th, 1947.
Robert returned to Connecticut and worked as a sales representative for a hardware electrical appliance company into the 1950s. In 1951, he married Eleanor Hughes and had five children. He eventually moved to Southbridge, Massachusetts where he passed away on October 5th, 1982.
Saipan
On May 29th, the USS James O’Hara got underway from Pearl Harbor with the Northern Attack Force, briefly stopped at Eniwetok, and arrived offshore Saipan carrying Marines from the 4th Division during the early hours of June 15th. When dawn came, the Navy began softening up the Japanese defenses and continued as the first wave of Marines made their way to the beach at 8:12 AM. 2nd LT Whelan’s ship disembarked their Marines which surged for the Yellow and Blue Beaches. 2nd LT Whelan began to oversee the unloading of cargo on the beaches once the assault waves were able to push inland though heavy enemy fire. Casualties from the bitter fighting were loaded on the USS James O’Hara along with a few enemy prisoners, and she left the island on the 17th to the northeast as the Battle of the Philippine Sea was won nearby. Whelan returned to Saipan after the wounded were transferred and completed unloading crucial supplies for the Marines, and left the following day for Pearl Harbor.
Anguar Island
In Hawaii, the USS James O’Hara completed further amphibious training, took on more cargo, and prepared itself for the next invasion. She steamed from the United States on August 12th for Guadalcanal where elements of the 81st Infantry Division were taken aboard. They left on September 8th and sailed for Anguar Island, part of the Palau Invasion. The island’s air base was to be captured to support the upcoming Philippine invasion. Arriving on September 15th, the USS James O’Hara transferred their troops to LVTs which promptly made way for the invasion beaches at 8:10 AM. The soldiers did not encounter serious resistance, thanks to the unlikely choice of landing beaches, but over the next few days battled a determined enemy. 2nd LT Whelan remained offshore until the 23rd when they retired to Manus, Admiralties.
Leyte
Waiting on the island was the 1st Cavalry Division which had helped capture the island a few months before. Now, they trained for the invasion of Leyte in the Philippines. Elements boarded the USS James O’Hara on October 12th and arrived in Leyte Gulf eight days later for the assault. Five waves of troops climbed over her side into LCVTs once she had closed within 7 miles of San Ricardo and landed at White Beach around 10:00 AM after a heavy preliminary bombardment. The army quickly moved off the beachhead and allowed for 2nd LT Whelan to oversee the transfer of cargo to the beach. By the end of the day, 476 tons of supplies had been dropped off from the USS James O’Hara, and left for Palau by nightfall. Two days after entering Kossol Passage, the Battle of Samar, part of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf, began with a serious surprise strike by the Japanese against the landing forces at Leyte. The USS James O’Hara was ordered into the vicinity to take on survivors from the USS Gambier Bay and St Lo which had been sunk and offloaded them on Guam on the 31st. Since the battle for Leyte was still raging, 2nd LT Whelan welcomed fresh reinforcements aboard at Manus and shuttled them to the Leyte beachhead between November 17th and 29th before sailing to Hollandia, New Guinea to prepare for the invasion of Luzon.
Luzon
USS James O’Hara arrived in early December, took on troops from the 6th Infantry Division, and left Sansapor on the 30th. She sailed through Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, and entered Lingayen Gulf on S-day: January 9th, 1945. Pre bombardments began at 7:00 AM sharp and an hour later, troops from 2nd LT Whelan’s ship were on the way ashore and met light resistance. After the green light was passed back, Whelan began his usual duty of unloading cargo throughout the day, and then retired to Guam. As per usual, the USS James O’Hara was not given time to rest before their next action. Whelan began working with the 3rd Marine Division to understand their supply structure and what equipment was needed for the Iwo Jima invasion. He began overseeing the loading of cargo and the 28th Replacement Draft aboard the ship on Guam from February 9th to 16th and then left the following day.
Iwo Jima
Since the 3rd Marine Division was initially designated as reserve for the battle, the USS James O’Hara stayed offshore when the invasion began on February 19th. The Marines landed under tremendous enemy presence and suffered immense casualties, not to mention a complete cluster of attempted resupply efforts during the first few days. It was only after the beachhead was secure and the Marines moved far enough inland when 2nd LT Whelan and his ship closed for the beach and unloaded replacements and needed supplies for the troops. Throughout the end of February to March 5th, she continued this duty along with taking aboard 400 wounded Marines before sailing to Guam to transfer them. After a promotion to 1st Lieutenant, Whelan accompanied her while shuttling reinforcements and equipment to New Caledonia, New Guinea, and the Philippines throughout May, June, and July before returning to the United States. Shortly after, Japan announced their surrender, prompting the USS James O’Hara to sail back to the Pacific and to Wakayama Harbor, Honshu, Japan for the occupation. LT Whelan eventually arrived in San Francisco on November 17th where he reverted into the Marine Corps Reserve, and was officially released from active duty on July 12th, 1947.
Robert returned to Connecticut and worked as a sales representative for a hardware electrical appliance company into the 1950s. In 1951, he married Eleanor Hughes and had five children. He eventually moved to Southbridge, Massachusetts where he passed away on October 5th, 1982.