I am Mike Dunham USNA '70 and would like to share this story with you and ask for any suggestions you can provide.

In our National Cemetery in St. Louis, Jefferson Barracks, there is a mass POW grave containing 100+ men who died while POWs in Japan. They are US, British, Australian and Dutch.   The members of the military forces of the former allied powers conduct a very moving ceremony every 11 November at the grave site.   Last year I attended for the first time and noticed one of the names listed was that of Cdr. George M. Brooke.   Eventually I was able to identify him as Commander George Magruder Brooke, USNA Class of 1921.

He was Captain of LUZON, PR-7 and brought his ship and crew out of China just prior to December 7, 1941.   The ship participated in the defense of Bataan and Corregidor and was scuttled at the surrender.   Prior to that the crew was assigned to an Army Coastal Battery on one of the Islands in Manila Bay.   Brooke was captured and died on 28 February 1945, in Fukuoka, Japan.

He was awarded the NAVY CROSS and the ARMY DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE/w/OAK LEAF CLUSTER.   I was able to locate his son,George R. Brooke in San Diego who provided me with his dad's service record and N.C. Citation.   Our local chapter of the Naval Academy Alumni Association will lay a wreath at the grave this Memorial Day.   Mr. Brooke said he, his brother and mother were aware that his father was buried in St. Louis.

Would you be interested in the names of the other Americans buried in this grave? (Majority are U.S. Army).   Can you give me any suggestions on finding out details of Fukuoka?   Rest assured that we will honor all of the men buried here with special emphasis on our Classmate.   Cdr. Brooke's wife Lilian R. never remarried and is interred in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetary in San Diego.   Thank you for your site and I apologize for the length of this message.

Mike Dunham
mikedunham@earthlink.net