In Memory of 1st Class USNR Firefighter
John Patrick Minahan
Lake Andes, South Dakota
Charles Mix County
March 16, 1922 – October 24, 1944
Killed in Action in the Philippine Sea
John Patrick Minahan was born March 16, 1922, in Lake Andes, South Dakota, the son of James and Johanna (Lynch) Minahan. John enlisted “to serve my country” on October 14, 1942. On January 29, 1943, Minahan was assigned to the USS Birmingham, which, at the time, was newly commissioned.
On January 29, 1943, John and crew provided fire support for the Invasion of Sicily. Minahan’s cruiser arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on September 3, 1943, where it is believed John met up with his brother-in-law, James Peacock. After this,
the USS Birmingham provided support in areas of the central Pacific. On November 8-9, 1943, off Bouganville Island the Birmingham was hit with two bombs and a torpedo and then went in for repairs until February 18, 1944. Again, the Birmingham set out and served as invasion support for major invasions in the Pacific.
On October 24, 1944, during the Leyte Gulf/liberation of the Philippines, the Birmingham attempted to help the USS Princeton, which was ablaze after being bombed by the Japanese. A sudden devastating blast killed 229 men; among those were firefighters killed while attending to their duty. John Patrick Minahan was among those killed that day.
A white marker was placed in the cemetery which overlooks Lake Andes, South Dakota. John P. Minahan was buried at sea on October 25, 1944, along with 228 other men.
The telegram from the Navy Department stated “The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son John Patrick Minahan … was killed in action while in the service of his country…. Please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.”
John’s captain sent a letter to Mrs. James B. Minahan that read in part:
Minnie’s outstanding qualities were good conduct and reliability. He was one of our best seamen. He was justly proud of his navy record and we are proud to have had him as a shipmate. John’s death was caused by an explosion which occurred while his ship was fighting a fire on one of our aircraft carriers resulting from an enemy bomb.
His death was instantaneous and without suffering. It might have happened to any of us but God in his wisdom called John to a better world. It is my earnest hope that you will take comfort in the fact that he died as a brave man in the service of his country, not only in the midst of combat with the enemy but also while his ship was on a mission of rescue.
This entry was respectfully submitted by James Fiorello, Turner Johnson, and Josh Delahoyde, 8th Grade West, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, May 10, 19999. Information for this entry was provided by Don Peacock, nephew of 1st Class USNR Firefighter John P. Minahan.
