Name: 1st Lt. Philip Hill Doherty
Born: 12 June 1915 – Chicago, Illinois
Parents: Philip R. Doherty and Hannah Hill-Doherty
Siblings: 1 brother
Hometown:
– 1405 South 17th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois
Education:
– Roosevelt School- Proviso Township High School
– Class of 1933
– Northwestern University
– University of Illinois
– Class of 1938 – Bachelors of Science
Occupation: High School Teacher
– Berger School District 147 – South Holland, Illinois
– Thornwood High School – South Holland, Illinois
Married: Jeanette Doherty
Residence: 1417 South 17th Avenue – Maywood, Illinois
Selective Service Registration: 16 October 1940
Contact Person: Philip Russel Doherty – father
Enlisted:
– Illinois National Guard
– U. S. Army
– 5 March 1941
– he was promoted to the rank of corporal
– HQ 33rd Infantry Division – Camp Robinson, Arkansas
Officer Candidate School:
– Fort Benning, Georgia
– commissioned a second lieutenant after a three-month course – 18 December 1941
Serial Number: O&451713
Training:
– Camp Forrest, Tennessee
– Fort Ord, California
– Company F, 134th Infantry Regiment
– New Caledonia
– left fall of 1942
Unit: Troop B Mobile Combat Reconnaissance Squadron, Americal Division
Engagements:
– Battle of Guadalcanal – 13 October 1942
– major two day battle at Henderson Field – over 1000 Japanese killed
Killed in Action:
– 4 January 1943 – Doherty volunteered to take a patrol out to determine the damage
done to a Japanese position. When Doherty was within five yards of the position, he
was hit by Japanese fire. The area was open terrain which made observation easy
for both sides. American observers could see Doherty’s body, but troops sent in to
recover it was driven back by enemy fire. To ensure he was dead, the Japanese
shot his body several times. Since his body was not recovered, he was reported as Missing in Action.
– After the war, three officers and 32 enlisted men attempted to recover Doherty’s
remains. On October 27, 1948, he was officially declared dead
Memorial:
– Tablets of the Missing – American Military Cemetery – Manila, Philippine Islands
Medals:
– Purple Heart
– Silver Star
Note: At this time, his family has contributed DNA to see if remains found by U.S. Army Human Resource Command are those of 1st Lt. Philip H. Doherty.
