Seaman 1st Class General P. Douglas, U.S. Navy, k1943

Brothers Garfield Douglas (far l.) and General Preston Douglas (third from l.) and their Buddies. Garfield Douglas left Newcomb, Tennessee within two weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There was a massive local volunteering of troops, both sons from this family distinguished to have served in every major US War. General Preston was not yet of age and had to get his father's permission, so left later. The brothers were both on the USS Helena that was torpedoed in the Solomon Islands, but served in different sections of the ship.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced Thursday (circa September 2007) that the remains of a U.S. serviceman from Tennessee who had been missing since World War II have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Addendum

A Memorial Homecoming Celebration

General Preston Douglas was born July 26, 1922 in Newcomb in Campbell County, Tennessee. His parents were Walter and Bertha Morgan Douglas, his brother was Walter Garfield Douglas, and his sister was Regina Douglas Collins. Two spinster aunts, Mary and Martha Douglas helped raise them. He enlisted in the Navy on December 17, 1941 and served on the U.S.S. Helena (CL-50) along with his brother Garfield, who left earlier, within two weeks of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. General had to ask his father's permission as he was underage so went later.
Mr. Douglas was a WWI veteran himself, from a family distinguished to have served in every major US War.

"I watched your cousin General walk off Pug Hill to catch the Greyhound", Jean Nayles told me.

He went to San Diego, California for basic training. Sadly, General has not been seen in these parts since.

The Newcomb Douglas brothers served as seamen in WW II. They were assigned to the USS Helena, which came under attack at the battle of Kula Gulf. On the morning of July 6, 1943, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the Helena. The first torpedo hit was received in the vicinity of frame 30, at an estimated depth of about 15 feet below the water line. This hit severed the bow and turret from the remaining part of the ship. The extent of the damage caused by this torpedo hit was not know by any surviving officer or man until after the engagement and the crew were preparing to abandon ship. Shortly after the first torpedo hit the ship, a second torpedo hit was received and all power was lost. A third and final torpedo hit was received about one minute after the second.

Nearly 1,000 men were on board. All but 174 were safely evacuated before the ship slipped into its watery grave.  Preston and Garfield served in different sections of the ship. Garfield survived.
General was killed two weeks shy of his 21st Birthday.

For the next two years General was listed as Missing in Action since 6 July 1943 and officially declared dead on 10 August 1945, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery. Though the new designation brought some closure to the grieving, questions remained. For years, his sister, Regina, made many inquires about her brother’s fate, which remained a mystery until 2006.

A cousin shared how Garfield searched the dark waters in vain and came home forever changed. He walked the earth, forever wondering where his dear brother Preston was. His mind always seemingly searching the watery Pacific grave. Garfield moved north to Michigan after the war and later died in a VA hospital in 1971.

On a warm sunny day in 2006 on a secluded beach on the Solomon Island of Kolombangar, a beachcomber discovered a dog tag protruding from the sand. After a little digging, he found several bones. He contacted the United States Department of Defense, which excavated the area. There they uncovered bones, teeth, the dog tags and a metal four leaf clover that Douglas carried.

The remains were 50 miles from where the battle had taken place. How they got there remains a mystery. The DOD issued a statement saying the prevailing theory is that his body may have washed up to shore, where it was buried by natives. In June 2006, a resident of Ranonga Island notified the US Consulate, who notified John Innes who researched the name and contacted JPAC. In mid-September 2006, a team from JPAC traveled to the island and visited the burial site. His remains were positively identified by the lab.

After careful investigation, the DOD located the Douglas family. The family had moved from Newcomb, where he was born to Sneedville, Tennesee.

“My mother spent many years wondering what happened to her brother,” said Denny Douglas, nephew of General Douglas.

“We were all very happy when the Department of Defense confirmed that it was my uncle’s remains they found. It was in early 2007 that they confirmed it was my uncle’s remains.”

Unfortunately, Regina Douglas had developed Alzheimer’s disease by 2006. She was unable to comprehend that her brother’s remains had been found. Regina Douglas died in November 2007. She didn’t live to see her brother returned home.

The funeral for General Douglas was held January 26, 2008 at McNeil Funeral Home in Sneedville, six and a half decades after his death. His flag draped coffin sat next to a table with a portrait of him, along with a display case containing three medals awarded posthumously. The patriot guard, an organization formed to honor fallen soldiers, bore two American flags in the chapel.

The coffin was then escorted across Clinch Mountain down a winding road to an old community cemetery. As many as 200 people braved the chilling cold, and the color guards proudly displayed flags from all branches of the service as well as the United States flag, the flag of Tennessee and the MIA flag. After a brief prayer, there was the firing of the 21 gun salute, the highest honor bestowed at a military funeral. Dozens of active and retired soldiers, ranging in age from 20 to 80 and in their military dress uniforms, stood at attention as the somber notes of taps resonated throughout the valley.

He was laid to rest at Gollihon Cemetery next to his sister. There were soldiers from four wars, school children, veterans groups and distant relatives who came to remember Seaman 1st Class General Preston Douglas.
Kevin Walden and the American Legion honor guard were there also. I was honored to have been invited to pay my respects and stand alongside my Douglas cousins.

The mystery of General's fate is now resolved. He has finally come home to the family that will always love and remember him.

Contributed by: Derek J.H. Douglas