American Roll of Honor

416th Bombardment Group (L)

St. Paul's Cathedral

American Roll of Honor

AMERICAN ROLL OF HONOR
St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England
by Steven Roy

In May 2018, my wife Pat Wymond and I visited Great Britain which included visiting RAF Wethersfield Airfield Museum, the base and surrounding villages. We also attended the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Cambridge American Cemetery (near Cambridge, England). At that time, we walked along the Wall of the Missing and found the 7 MIA/KIA veterans names from the 416th Bomb Group that are inscribed on the Wall of the Missing. The 7 veterans are:
S/Sgt. Glenn J. Bender 669th Sq. April 10, 1944
S/Sgt. Jack O. Nielsen 669th Sq. April 10, 1944
2Lt. Arthur A. Raines Jr. 669th Sq. April 10, 1944
1Lt. William Edward Cramsie 671st Sq. April 10, 1944
S/Sgt. Charles R. Henshaw 671st Sq. April 10, 1944
S/Sgt. Jack Steward 671st Sq. April 10, 1944
1Lt. Raymond K. Cruze 668th Sq. July 18, 1944

Steve Roy (L) and Ross Stewart (R) Memorial Day 2018
(Photo courtesy of Steve Roy)

It was a beautiful ceremony conducted by the American Battle Monuments Commission and culminated in a wreath laying ceremony. I placed a wreath on behalf of the 416th Bomb Group Association to honor our 416th veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. In addition to the 7 veterans that appear on the Tablets of the Missing, 8 veterans from the 416th. Bomb Group are interred at the cemetery. They are:
S/Sgt. Joseph J. Shields 669th Sq April 24,1944
Pdf. Charles W. Coleman 668th Sq May 9, 1944
S/Sgt. Royden E. Conopask 670th Sq May 19, 1944
S/Sgt. Thomas I. Walsh Jr. 670th Sq May 19, 1944
S/Sgt. Harold W. Smith 668th Sq June 30, 1944
Pfc. Byron K. Allen HQ July 5, 1944
2Lt. Norris B. Haney 670th Sq August 25, 1944
2Lt. John D. Smith 669th Sq August 30, 1944

The final tribute came when the "Sally B" a B-17G flew over the cemetery and made 3 passes. The final pass was down the center of the cemetery and she rolled her wings side to side saluting the veterans that are remembered at the Cambridge American Cemetery.

B-17G "Sally B" over the Cambridge American Cemetery
(Photo courtesy of Cambridge American Cemetery)

Our Great Britain visit ended in London. We took a tour of St. Paul's Cathedral. Inside the Cathedral is a Chapel that was built after WWII to honor those Americans who died during the war. This American Memorial Chapel also contains a two volume set called the American Roll of Honor which has inscribed within, the names of those WWII veterans that served in England and were killed in action. Our guide pointed this out and suggested we can look at the American Roll of Honor by asking the staff for assistance. I looked at the American Roll of Honor focusing on the 7 MIA/KIA veterans from the 416th Bomb Group. I found only one veteran's name. His name is 1Lt. Raymond K. Cruze. The other 6 were not there. The Cathedral staff told me the process is to contact the U.S. Embassy - London and they would research the 6 names and then contact St. Paul's to have the names inscribed in the American Roll of Honor.

St. Paul's Cathedral
(Photo courtesy of Steve Roy)

Upon our return to the States, I followed up first by trying to contact the U. S, Embassy - London. I sent emails, I called and left messages, but received no response. I next tried contacting St. Paul's Cathedral. I sent emails, I called but received no response.

After several months of trying to establish communications with the U.S. Embassy - London, I asked Congressman Rick Larsen, (WA-02) for assistance. He found my request unique, because typically constituents ask for his assistance with something very personal such as asking the Veterans Administration or Social Security Administration about the constituent's benefits claim.

During the 416th Bomb Group reunion in October 2018, I made a Power Point Presentation (PDF) about Wethersfield, the Cambridge American Cemetery, and American Roll of Honor at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

I worked with the Congressman's staff who contacted the State Department to learn of the contact person from the Defense Attache Office at the U.S. Embassy - London. After 2.5 months of delays from the State Department I finally heard from the U.S. Embassy - London.

In early December 2018 I sent an email containing the 6 MIA/KIA veterans names (see above), including their rank, Squadron number and the date they went missing to my contact at the U.S. Embassy - London.

In late January 2019, I sent a follow up email confirming with my U.S. Embassy - London contact that he received the information regarding the 6 MIA/KIA veterans.

A month later I received a response from my contact at the U. S. Embassy - London, confirming he "officially requested that St. Paul's add" the six names to the American Roll of Honor. He also confirmed that the 8 veterans from the 416th Bomb Group buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery are also inscribed in the American Roll of Honor. He did not know how long it would take St. Paul's to add the names but said he would let me know when it happens.

In July 2019 I had not heard from the Defense Attache Office so I sent an email requesting a status report. A month later, August 2019, I again reached out to the Defense Attache Office and asked for an update. I also mentioned the upcoming 416th Bomb Group Reunion in October 2019 that I was desiring to report to the 416th Bomb Group Families and Friends that the 6 veterans names had been added to the American Roll of Honor. I followed up on the same date with a phone call and left a voice message. I received a response from the Defense Attache Office that they have not received a response from St. Paul's and that he would send an email making an inquiry as to the status of his request. He also mentioned his office has "several requests pending". He hoped to hear from St. Paul's by the following week.

Two weeks later in early September 2019, I again requested an update from the Defense Attache Office. He indicated that St. Paul's did not respond to his email. He indicated he would draft a followup letter for the Defense Attache's signature addressed to St. Paul's.

Two weeks later, in the latter part of September 2019, I followup and mentioned the upcoming 416th Bomb Group reunion October 8-12, 2019, and I was hopeful I could report back to the veterans, friends, and families that the 6 veterans names had been added to the American Roll of Honor.

On Friday, October 5, 2019 I called the Defense Attache Office and spoke with my contact. He still had not heard back from St. Paul's. He offered to go to St. Paul's and look at the American Roll of Honor to see if the 6 veterans names had been added. Unfortunately, he was not able to get away to St. Paul's, but reached out to them.

On October 9, 2019, the Defense Attache Office did receive a call from St. Paul's stating they did not have in their files the letters from the Defense Attache Office. There appeared to be "some sort of internal issue with the mail", which is "now sorted". St. Paul's offered to check on the 6 veterans names in the American Roll of Honor.

On October 11, 2019, during our reunion business meeting, I received an email from the Defense Attache Office contact that he "received good news from St. Paul's Cathedral. The names had been added." He was going to send a letter from the Defense Attache that confirms the names have been added." I read this email to the reunion attendees.

Also during the business meeting, I received an email from Congressman Rick Larsen's office that he visited St. Paul's Cathedral and saw the 6 veterans names inscribed in the American Roll of Honor. He took pictures of the 6 inscribed names which will be posted on the 416th.com website in the near future.

During this 17 month journey to honor the 416th veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today not once did I believe it was too much of an effort. Being persistent is so important if we are to keep alive the memory of these 416th Bomb Group heroes as well as those that perished in WWII. If we are not vigilant nor willing to speak out these veterans sacrifices will be for not.

It is my hope and wish that someday soon, all the 416th Bomb Group MIA/KIA veterans can come home. In the famous words of Rudyard Kipling "Lest we Forget" their sacrifices and those of the families of all the brave 416th Bomb Group veterans.