Tag Archive: Amos B Chapman

May Post Meeting – Scholarships to be Awarded

At our May Post meeting, we will have as our guests the 2018 scholarship winners and their families. The names of the winners will be announced at the meeting.

This year, we are naming our scholarships to honor four distinguished members or our post:

Fred Diedrich: World War II vet Fred Diedrich was a paratrooper with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment who jumped into Normandy on June 6th, 1944. Later on September 17, Fred jumped again into Holland with orders to seize control of the Nijmegen Bridge. The regiment then moved south to the Ardennes and combat operations in the Battle of the Bulge.

Amos B. Chapman: Amos joined the Navy in May, 1943, at the age of 17. He was assigned to serve aboard the destroyer, USS Killen, in the Pacific as a Fire Controller. His ship was engaged in the Battles for Leyte Gulf during which the ship was under constant attack by artillery, air and Kamikaze attacks.

Fred M. Apgar: Fred volunteered to join the U. S. Air Force in 1967. He was assigned to the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. During a year of combat duty as an Air Intelligence Officer, he flew 116 combat missions over Northern Laos.

Buck Weaver: Buck flew 137 combat missions in his beloved P-39 and P-40 fighter aircraft. Buck flew bomber escort, dive-bombing, and combat air patrol missions in the South Pacific in support of the “island hopping campaign”. In 1975, after serving on active duty for nearly 20 years, Buck retired from the Air Force at the rank of Colonel.

USS Killen DD-593

The following email was received by the Post:

My name is Juan Vera. I am the State Underwater Archaeologist in Puerto Rico. A few years ago we rediscovered a Fletcher Class destroyer in Puerto Rico. We have since identified it as the USS Killen DD-593. I have researched the history of the ship and its crew. One of your members, Amos B Chapman S2/C USNR, was a crew member on the Killen. I have put together a pictorial tribute to honor the ship and her crew for their service in a time of need. The Killen received a deadly attack on 1 November 1944. This year on the 70 anniversary of the attack, I laid a wreath and read the names of the 17 young sailors that gave their lives that day. I am sending you a copy of the tribute and would deeply appreciate if you can give a copy to Mr. Amos Chapman and his family. If I have made any mistakes in this tribute I would be glad to correct them or if Mr. Chapman or his family would like any photos or comment added, I would be more than happy to do so.

Amos B. ChapmanAmos B. Chapman
Amos grew up in Toppenish, WA but also lived in Seattle and graduated from Franklin HS. He joined the US Navy in May, 1943, just a couple months before turning 18. He served aboard the USS Killen (DD-593) in the Pacific as a Fire Controller. The Killen was a new destroyer built in Bremerton. It provided convoy escort, shore bombardment and antiaircraft screen. It participated in action in the Surigao Strait. The Killen was attacked by 9 Japanese Aircraft off of Leyte and was heavily damaged by a bomb, killing 15 crewmen. Amos resides in Edmonds. Amos retired from the US Postal Service Seattle. He has 3 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

We appreciate receiving stories about our members. The report that Mr. Vera send with his email was quite extensive and far too lengthy to be included in this newsletter. The fact that someone took the time to learn the history of a ship and its crew is remarkable. Amos and the crew of the USS Killen have our deepest thanks for their service.