The Crew

KILLED:

• CHARLES L. ENSMINGER, STOREKEEER 1c, USN
• EDGAR G. HULSEBUS, LIEUT. USN
• MR. SANDRO SANDRI, ITALIAN JOURNALIST.

SERIOUSLY INJURED:

• JAMES J. HUGHES, LIEUT. COMDR., USN
• ARTHUR F. ANDERS, LIEUT. USN
• JOHN W. GEIST, LIEUT (jg) USN
• CARL H. BIRK, E.M. 1c, USN
• NEWTON L. DAVIS, F. 1c, USN
• ALEX KOZAK, MM 2c, USN
• JOHN H. LAND, CQM, USN
• KENNETH JAMES RICE, EM 3c, USN
• CHARLES SCOTT SCHROYER, SEA.1c, USN
• PERES DIX ZIEGLER, S.C. 3c, USN

MINOR INJURIES:

• CHARLES S. ADAMS, RM 2c, USN
• TONY BARBA, JR., SC 3c, USN
• JOHN A. BONKOSKI, GM 3c, USN
• ERNEST C. BRANCH, F. 1c, USN
• RAYMOND L. BROWNING, EM 3c, USN
• WALTER CHEATHAM, COX., USN
• THOMAS A. COLEMAN, CPhM, USN
• JOHN A. DIRNHOFER, Sea. 1c, USN
• YUAN T. ERH, MAtt. 1c, USN
• FRED G. FICHTENMAYER, CM 1c, USN
• EMERY F. FISHER, CWT, USN
• MICHAEL GERENT, MM 2c, USN
• CECIL B. GREEN, Sea. 1c, USN
• JOHN L. HODGE, F. 1c, USN
• FON B. HUFFMAN, WT 2c, USN
• KARL HAROLD JOHNSON, MM 2c, USN
• CARL HERMAN KERSKE
• PETER H. LUMPERS, CMM, USN
• WILLIAM P. LANDER, Sea. 1c, USN
• ERNEST R. HALHMANN, CBM, USN
• WILLIAM A. MC CABE, F. 1c, USN
• STANLEY W. MC EOWEN, Sea. 1c, USN
• JAMES H. PECK, QM 2c, USN
• REGINALD P. PETERSON, RM 2c, USN
• VERNON F. PUCKETT, CMM, USN
• KING F. SUNG, MAtt. 2c, USN
• HARRY B. TUCK, S. 1c, USN
• CLEO E. WAXLER, BM 2c, USN
• JOHN T. WEBER, Yeo. 1c, USN
• ROBERT R. HEBARD, F. 1c, USN
• FAR Z. WONG, MAtt. 1c, USN
• CLARK G. GRAZIER, Lieut. (MC), USN
• DENNIS H. BIWERSE, Ensign, USN.

SERIOUSLY INJURED CIVILIAN PASSENGERS:

• EMILE GASSIE, EMBASSY CLERK
• JAMES MARSHALL, COLLIERS CORRESPONDENT

MINOR INJURIES TO CIVILIAN PASSENGERS:

• J. PAXTON HALL, SECOND SECRETARY
• ROY SQUIRES, CHINA IMPORTING AND EXPORTING.

FOLLOWING CIVILIAN ON BOARD MEIPING MINOR INJURIES:

• F.H. VINES, BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO.

FOLLOWING CIVILIAN ON BOARD MEIAN KILLED:

• C.H. CARLSON, MASTER.

Survivors of the USS Panay

“I'LL MEET YOU AT THE SLOP CHUTE ON THE OLD WHANGPOO"
I'll meet you at the slop chute on the old Whangpoo
Bring along your dip net; there'll be enough for two
There'll be beans and carrots and some Irish stew
I'll meet you at the slop chute on the old Whangpoo!

— theme song of the “river rats” of the Yangtze Patrol,
sung to the tune of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"

The Crew of the USS Panay

THE DECORATED

THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL

ANDERS, ARTHUR F.

Citation:
NOTE: For his heroism and leadership, Arthur 'Tex' Anders was initially awarded the Navy Cross, the second-highest combat award given in the 1930s (one step below the Medal of Honor). However, the U.S. was technically not at war with Japan at the time of the incident, a fact a neutrality-minded Congress and Roosevelt Administration must have noted. Therefore the Navy Crosses awarded as a result of the Panay incident were withdrawn. In its place was substituted the Navy's second-highest non-combat award, the Distinguished Service Medal. Despite the fact that WWII brought the U.S. and Japan into open conflict, the DSM awards remained in place. The 1968 USS Pueblo Incident — in which a U.S. Navy vessel was attacked and seized by North Korea in international waters — brought back memories of the Panay. Shortly thereafter, the Navy Cross was re-issued to Arthur Anders in a ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy.

ROBERTS, FRANK N.

ADAMS, CHARLES S.

Synopsis:
The Navy Cross is presented to Charles S. Adams, Radioman Second Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on December 12, 1937, while serving aboard the Panay when it was attacked by the Japanese.

BARLOW, HARRY DOUGLAS

Synopsis:
The Navy Cross is presented to Harry Douglas Barlow, Lieutenant Commander, British Royal Navy, for his voluntary and unstinted cooperation in assisting with the recovery of the survivors of the Panay after it was attacked by the Japanese.

BONKOSKI, JOHN ANTHONY

CHEATHAM, WALTER

CRABBE, LEWIS GONNE EYRE

Synopsis:
The Navy Cross is presented to Lewis Gonne Eyre Crabbe, Vice Admiral, British Royal Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession through his voluntary and unstinted cooperation in assisting with the recovery of the survivors of the U.S.S. Panay.

COWDEN, EDWARD E.

DIRNHOFFER, JOHN A.

GRAZIER, CLARK G.

HEBARD, ROBERT RAYMOND
Fireman First Class, U.S. Navy

HENNESSY, JOHN N.

Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to John N. Hennessy, Gunner's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the bombing and loss of the U.S.S. Panay on 12 December 1937. Gunner's Mate Second Class Hennessy was a member of the crew, which courageously operated the machine gun battery against the attacking planes even though these guns could not bear forward from which direction most of the attacks were made. He remained at his post of duty until the ammunition was expended and he was ordered to abandon ship. His performance of duty on this occasion was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.

HODGE, JOHN J.

HULSEBUS, EDGAR W. G.   (Posthumous)

Citation:
For having distinguished himself by display of heroism on the occasion of the bombing and loss of the USS Panay on 12 December 1937.  Hulsebus was a member of the crew, which courageously operated the machine gun battery against the attacking planes, even though these guns could not bear forward from which direction most of the attacks were made.  He remained at his post of duty until he was fatally wounded and carried from the ship.  His performance of duty on this occasion was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.

KERSKE, CARL H.

KOZAK, ALEXANDER

LANG, JOHN HENRY

MAHLMANN, ERNEST R.

For distinguishing himself by his display of heroism on the occasion of the bombing and loss of the USS Panay on December 12, 1937, Mahlmann manned three machine guns at different times.  It was due to his efforts that the boats were successfully lowered and manned during the abandon ship operations; he was continuously exposed to heavy bombing and machine gun fire from attacking planes.  He made all of the trips in the sampan and voluntarily returned to the sinking Panay for supplies after she had been abandoned.

MCEOWEN, STANLEY W.

MURPHY, JAMES T.

Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to James T. Murphy, Radioman Third Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the bombing and loss of the U.S.S. Panay. Radioman Third Class Murphy was a member of the crew, which courageously operated the machine gun battery against the attacking planes, even though these guns could not bear forward from which direction most of the attacks were made. He remained at his post of duty until the ammunition was expended and he was ordered to abandon ship. His performance of duty on this occasion was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.

PETERSON, REGINALD

RIDER, MORRIS

TRUAX, HOMER W.
Boatswain's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy

WEIMERS, GERALD L.
Machinist's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy

WILLIAMSON, MARCUS V.
Fireman First Class, U.S. Navy

WISLER, ANDY R.
Radioman First Class, U.S. Navy

THE BRONZE STAR

FONG SUNG, KING
Messman

LETTER OF COMMENDATION

ERH, YUAN TE

HUGHES, JAMES J.