Fredick W. Braa

World War II
-
MIA
Fallen

County:
Cass

Date of Loss:

Recovered:
Remains not recovered

Branch of Service:
Navy

Rank:
Machinist's Mate 1st Class

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
U.S.S. Juneau

Listed on/in the:
Register of North Dakota Veterans World War II 1941-1945 and Korean Conflict 1950-1953, published 1968

Major Battle/Theatre:
Asiatic Pacific Theater

Engagements/Battles:
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Medals and Honors:

Circumstances:

The Juneau, in the early morning hours in near pitch darkness, was first struck on the port side by a torpedo causing a severe list. The Juneau, once dawn broke, then tried to return to Espiritu Santo for repairs along with the battle damaged U.S.S. Helena and U.S.S. San Francisco, when the Juneau was again hit by a torpedo from Japanese I-26 causing her to sink.

Biography:

Fredick was born in Alamo, North Dakota on November 26, 1920. He entered the US Navy Cass County, North Dakota on January 17, 1939. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Fredick served as a Machinist's Mate First Class, U.S.S. Juneau (CL-52), U.S. Navy during World War II. He resided in Essex County, New Jersey prior to the war. Fredick was declared "Missing In Action" in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal during the war. The Juneau, in the early morning hours in near pitch darkness on November 13, 1942, was first struck on the port side by a torpedo causing a severe list. The Juneau, once dawn broke, then tried to return to Espiritu Santo for repairs along with the battle damaged U.S.S. Helena and U.S.S. San Francisco, when the Juneau was again hit by a torpedo from Japanese I-26 causing her to sink. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Husband of Mary Elizabeth Braa who resided in Newark, New Jersey. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.