Lawrence Frederic Koch

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
No  ABMC Form 1, Headstone Inscription And Interment Record
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Memorial Marker Photo(s), Find A Grave
Yes Official Navy After Action Report "One Helluva Day" - Lingayen Gulf, 6 January 1945
No  Photo of veteran
Yes USS California Sailors lost on January 6, 1945
No  Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data

WWII Draft Card Data
Lawrence Frederic Koch
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 18  -  Relationship to Draftee: Self
Birth Date: April 4, 1924  -  Birth Place: Ritzville, Washington
Residence Place: Vancouver, Clark County, Washington
Registration Date: June 30, 1942  -  Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Kaiser Co.
Weight: 150  -  Complexion: Dark
Eye Color: Blue  -  Hair Color: Brown  -  Height: 5' 9"
Next of Kin: Fred Koch
Members of Household: Lawrence Frederic Koch, Self

After Action Report:
This excerpt of the Official U.S. Navy report was taken from the Naval History and Heritage Command website, H-040-4: The Invasion of Luzon-Battle of Lingayen Gulf, January 1945  under the section "One Helluva Day" - Lingayen Gulf, 6 January 1945:
   (Paragraph 10) Kamikaze attacks continued in the afternoon. At 1720, five kamikaze and one escort approached from astern of destroyer Newcomb (DD-586). (Newcomb had hit the battleship Yamashiro with a torpedo during the Battle of Surigao Strait). The 20-mm gunners on the stern of Newcomb downed one kamikaze, but the other used Newcomb as cover, flying by at deck level, during which two of Newcomb's crew were killed and 15 wounded by "friendly" anti-aircraft fire. The kamikaze then banked sharp left and crashed into Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf's flagship, the USS California, at the base of the mainmast. A gasoline fire raged and a secondary turret was destroyed by a "friendly" 5-inch round that hit the ship. Although the crew put out the fire in short order, casualties were heavy, with 45 killed and 151 wounded.
  This action prompted Vice Admiral Oldendorf to send a message, "A day which was characterized by brilliant performance on the part of many ships was seriously marred by indiscriminate, promiscuous and uncontrolled shooting. Ammunition was wasted, death and injury to shipmates inflicted, and material damage caused to our ships. All hands are enjoined to make certain their guns are fired at the enemy and not at their shipmates."

Note 1. The death location, "Died After a Kamikaze hit the USS California in the Lingayen Gulf, west of the Philippine Island of Leyte" is based on the following:

A. The American Battle Monuments Commission website lists S1C Koch status as: "Burial At Sea", he is Memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery, Philippines, and that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

B. The Bureau of Naval Personnel reports: "KOCH, Lawrence F, SEA1, 8829994, USS California BB-44, Lingayen Gulf, Jan 6, 1945, (Cascode121) killed in combat, dd Jan 6, 1945".

C. The States Summary of War Casualties, Washington: "KOCH, Lawrence Frederic, Seaman 1c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Normadine Lee Koch, Box 893, Ritzville, Wash"

D. The United States Navy Memorial reports: "KOCH, Lawrence, Sea1c, USN, California BB-44, January 6, 1945".

E. Further information on the USS California kamikaze attack on January 6, can be found at Wikipedia site USS California (BB-44).

F. Further information on the service and history of the USS California can be found at Naval History and Heritage Command website USS California (BB-44), 1921-1959.

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USS California Shipmates lost on January 6, 1945
Thirty-four of the forty-five USS California sailors who also died on January 6, 1945:
   S1C Brand Everett E. Texas, #8402557
   LT Cottrell George D. California, #0-113597
   S1C Dale James A. Montana, #8775915
   S2C Doggett Richard E. Illinois, #3012565
   S1C Downs Robert S. Ohio, #8553504
   LT Dunklin Roy N. Texas, #0-165382
   RT3 Ellis Chester E. Missouri, #6288811
   COX Gibson Boyd F. West Virginia, #2583046
   S1C Holler Henry M. Minnesota, #8699528
   S2C Holmes Louis C. Alabama, #2732234
   LT Keithly John R. Missouri, #0-101124
   S1C Kiefner Chlois L. Indiana, #6350774
   S1C Kovack Robert T. Ohio, #2853570
   S2C Kush Rolland E. Nebraska, #8717709
   S1C Lee Richard K. Ohio, #8570298
   S1C Lochner William C. Iowa, #3220806
   S1C McDaniel James C. Tennessee, #6417608
   S1C McMillan Walter K. California, #6338974
   S1C Miller Elsworth V. West Virginia, #8283534
   S2C Morris Gemes T. California, #5653949
   S1C Morris Vaughn H. Colorado, #6190932
   S1C Murphy William H. Massachusetts, #8012276
   S1C Paris James G. Illinois, #7269248
   S1C Pottorff Donald L. Iowa, #8596112
   S1C Schmill Robert R. Idaho, #8758724
   LTJG Scurto Peter, Illinois, #0-186448
   S1C Stawniak Francis J. Nebraska, #3169959
   GM3 Summers Benjamin F Jr. Colorado, #8766443
   COX Tsimbidis Nickolas, Illinois, #3006759
   S1C Turner Inman K. Kentucky, #8620331
   FC2 Vekas James, Ohio, #3113306
   GM3 Wade William L. Ohio, #5702570
   S1C Warren Jack L. Michigan, #8620337
   S1C Wyatt Jack R. California, #3827476