Everett M. Gill
Rank: Private
Branch: U.S. Army
Serial: 20916805
Unit: 33rd Quartermaster Truck Regiment
Entered the service from: New Jersey
Died:
Buried at: Plot F, Row 11, Grave 83, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
Awards: Purple Heart
Introduction
Everett M. Gill
Private Everett M. Gill was a member of the New Jersey National Guard. He had served a hitch in the United States Navy, and after coming home to New Jersey, had enlisted in the National Guard. Mobilized in 1940, he was serving on the island of Luzon in the Philippines with the 33rd Quartermaster Truck Regiment when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Private Gill was killed in action during a Japanese raid on either Clark Field or Manila on December 22, 1941. He was 27 years old at the time of his death.
Everett Gill was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Gill, of Atlantic City NJ, and his grandfather, Henry Gill, of 501 Lincoln Avenue, Collingswood NJ.
Thanks to Fred Baldassarre of “The Battling Bastards of Bataan” who supplied much of the above information concerning Private Gill’s whereabouts in December of 1941.
Killed in Luzon
Camden Courier-Post —
Everett Gill, 27, Gives Life in Rear Guard Action as MacArthur Retires
Atlantic City, Jan. 12.— An adventurous Atlantic City boy, veteran of a “hitch” in the U.S. Navy and later a member of General Douglas MacArthur’s valiant army in the Philippines, is listed as the shore’s first casualty of the war in the Pacific.
He was Everett Gill, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gill, of 100 block South New Hampshire avenue.
The boy, according to a telegram received by the mother, Mae, from the War Department, was “killed in action” on Dec. 23 in the Philippines.
It was on that day that strong Japanese forces landed 90 miles Southeast of Manila, a landing that later forced General MacArthur to withdraw forces from that area to make a stand above the Philippine capital. Presumably, Gill was killed in the violent rear guard action that permitted the bulk of the troops defending the Southernmost approaches to Manila to join forces with the main army above the capital.
Young Gill’s mother received the news Saturday as she was about to leave her place of employment, a midtown restaurant, where she is a waitress.
Shore Man Killed in Philippine Action
Camden Courier-Post —
Everett Gill Is Among 118 Soldiers Listed as Dead by Army
Everett M. Gill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Gill, of Atlantic City, and grandson of Mrs. Henry Gill, of 501 Lincoln avenue, Collingswood, was among the soldiers killed in the Philippines, the War Department announced yesterday.
Gill’s name was included in a list of 118 who met death in battle. He was killed Dec. 22.