Evening star., 1945-09-15
Killed

1t. Comdr. Richard H. Gingras, Al,
Of 1888 Adams Mill road NV, was
killed aboard the cruiser Houston
when 1t was sunk In February, 1912,
during the battle of the Java Sea,
his family has been informed. His
mother, Mrs. M. H. Gingras, and a
sister, Miss Dorothy Gingras, Navy
Department employe, live at the
Adams Mill road address. His widow
and their two daughters live in An
napolis.
Comdr. Gingras had been listed as
missing since the Houston disaster.
A survivor of the sinking, liberated
from a prison camp in Thailand,
where about 800 OF the crew were
held by the japanese, told the fam
lily that Comdr. Gingras was killed
by direct hit in the engine room
shortly before the ship went down.
Comdr. Gingras was the Houston S
engineering officer.
Comdr. Gingras was born in
Buffalo, N. Y, and attended schools
there. He was graduated from the
Naval Academy in 1925 and served
aboard two destroyers after grad
uation. He was an instructor in
engineering at Annapolis for three
years before his assignment to the
Houston in October, 194l.
John Murray James, 10, aviation
machinist's mate 3/c, who was re-
ported missing in Pacific action Au-
gust 8, has been declared dead by
the Navy, according to his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Raymond r. James,
553l Sherrier place NV. An air.
crewman aboard Navy bomber, he
was believed killed when his plane
was passing low on a bombing run
over a Jap ship near Japan Just
as the enemy vessel exploded, the
family said. The crew OF another
plane on the same mission reported
they had searched the area, but
failed to find any traces of sur
vivors after the plane was caught
in the explosion.
The young airman left Wilson
High School in his senior year to
enlist In the Navy in July, 1914.
He went overseas in July, 1945. Four
brothers in the service are 1t.
Charles r. James. Seaman &c How
ard j. James, T/Sergt. John Herbert
James and Pvt. William r. James,
Col. Charles 1. Humber, jr., 80.
brother of Miss Frances Humber.
2l22 California street NV, died
aboard Japanese prison ship last
January 20. Miss Humber has been
notified. An infantry officer, he
was captured at the fall of Cor
regidor.
Col. Humber was captain of the
West Point football team in 1881,
the year he was graduated, Miss
Humber said. His widow, Mrs. Har-
riet Elizabeth Humber, lives in San
Antonio, Tex. 49,
Pvt. Madison C. Eiland, 26. whose
wife, Mrs. Murle A. Eiland lives at
622 Quintana place NV. was killed
in action last October 10-the date
he previously was reported missing,
according to . War Department
telegram received by his wife last
week. Pvt. Eiland was fighting in
Italy with the 35lst infantry OF the
88th Division when killed. He had
been overseas about five months.
Pvt. Eiland was born in Alabama
and attended schools there. He
came to Washington about eight
years ago and was employed by the
Capital Transit Co. before entering
the Army in November, l943. A
brother, Davis D. Eland, is police
man at No. 8 Precinct Station in
Washington. Another brother, Pfc
James Vasco Eiland, is in the Philip
pines. Pvt. Eiland. also is survived
by a 2-year-old daughter, Patricia
Ann.
Chief Musician John Alexander
Simpson, jr., U. S. NJ, "a, band
master aboard the cruiser Helena
which was sunk by Jap torpedoes
in ku!a Gulf in July, 1S43, has been
ofncially declared dead, the Navy an
nounced today. A veteran of ls