Othmer served as a Seaman First Class, U.S.S. Luce ( DD-522), U.S. Navy during World War II.
He resided in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Navy on May 25, 1944 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Luce on August 23, 1944.
The " Luce ", in the beginning of April, 1945, were assigned radar picket duty in and around the Kerama Islands which were located southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan.
On May 4th at about 7:40 a.m. they were attacked by two Japanese kamikaze (suicide) planes on their portside. The " Luce " shot down one, but the explosion from the bomb it carried caused a power failure. Unable to bring her guns to bear in time, she was struck in the aft section by the second kamikaze.
The port engine was knocked out, engineering spaces flooded, and the rudder jammed. At 8:14 a.m. the " Luce " took a heavy list to starboard and the order to abandon ship was passed.
Moments later she slid beneath the surface in a violent explosion carrying " 126 " of her 312 officers and men with her.
Othmer went down with the ship and was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 9611695
Othmer also has a " Cenotaph " with his parents in the Saint Margaret's Cemetery, Lake Henry, Minnesota.
" Click Here " for that record.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Braun who resided in Regal, Minnesota.
( Bio & Family Link by: Russ Pickett )
Special thanks to " Kateb " for submitting this record for his bio updates !
He resided in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Navy on May 25, 1944 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Luce on August 23, 1944.
The " Luce ", in the beginning of April, 1945, were assigned radar picket duty in and around the Kerama Islands which were located southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan.
On May 4th at about 7:40 a.m. they were attacked by two Japanese kamikaze (suicide) planes on their portside. The " Luce " shot down one, but the explosion from the bomb it carried caused a power failure. Unable to bring her guns to bear in time, she was struck in the aft section by the second kamikaze.
The port engine was knocked out, engineering spaces flooded, and the rudder jammed. At 8:14 a.m. the " Luce " took a heavy list to starboard and the order to abandon ship was passed.
Moments later she slid beneath the surface in a violent explosion carrying " 126 " of her 312 officers and men with her.
Othmer went down with the ship and was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 9611695
Othmer also has a " Cenotaph " with his parents in the Saint Margaret's Cemetery, Lake Henry, Minnesota.
" Click Here " for that record.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Braun who resided in Regal, Minnesota.
( Bio & Family Link by: Russ Pickett )
Special thanks to " Kateb " for submitting this record for his bio updates !
Othmer served as a Seaman First Class, U.S.S. Luce ( DD-522), U.S. Navy during World War II.
He resided in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Navy on May 25, 1944 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Luce on August 23, 1944.
The " Luce ", in the beginning of April, 1945, were assigned radar picket duty in and around the Kerama Islands which were located southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan.
On May 4th at about 7:40 a.m. they were attacked by two Japanese kamikaze (suicide) planes on their portside. The " Luce " shot down one, but the explosion from the bomb it carried caused a power failure. Unable to bring her guns to bear in time, she was struck in the aft section by the second kamikaze.
The port engine was knocked out, engineering spaces flooded, and the rudder jammed. At 8:14 a.m. the " Luce " took a heavy list to starboard and the order to abandon ship was passed.
Moments later she slid beneath the surface in a violent explosion carrying " 126 " of her 312 officers and men with her.
Othmer went down with the ship and was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 9611695
Othmer also has a " Cenotaph " with his parents in the Saint Margaret's Cemetery, Lake Henry, Minnesota.
" Click Here " for that record.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Braun who resided in Regal, Minnesota.
( Bio & Family Link by: Russ Pickett )
Special thanks to " Kateb " for submitting this record for his bio updates !
He resided in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Navy on May 25, 1944 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Luce on August 23, 1944.
The " Luce ", in the beginning of April, 1945, were assigned radar picket duty in and around the Kerama Islands which were located southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan.
On May 4th at about 7:40 a.m. they were attacked by two Japanese kamikaze (suicide) planes on their portside. The " Luce " shot down one, but the explosion from the bomb it carried caused a power failure. Unable to bring her guns to bear in time, she was struck in the aft section by the second kamikaze.
The port engine was knocked out, engineering spaces flooded, and the rudder jammed. At 8:14 a.m. the " Luce " took a heavy list to starboard and the order to abandon ship was passed.
Moments later she slid beneath the surface in a violent explosion carrying " 126 " of her 312 officers and men with her.
Othmer went down with the ship and was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 9611695
Othmer also has a " Cenotaph " with his parents in the Saint Margaret's Cemetery, Lake Henry, Minnesota.
" Click Here " for that record.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Braun who resided in Regal, Minnesota.
( Bio & Family Link by: Russ Pickett )
Special thanks to " Kateb " for submitting this record for his bio updates !
