Name: 1st Lt. Philip Hill Doherty was born in Chicago on June 12, 1915, to Philip R. Doherty and Hannah Hill-Doherty, and had one brother. The family resided at 1405 South 17th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. He attended school in Maywood and graduated from Proviso Township High School in 1933. He then attended Northwestern University and the University of Illinois from which he earned a Bachelors of Science Degree from in 1938. He became a high school teacher at Thornwood High School in South Holland, Illinois, and married Jeanette D. Beard, and became the father of a daughter. He registered when the Selective Service Act became law on October 16, 1940, and named his father as his contact person.
An exact date is not known, but he joined the Illinois National Guard, and then on March 5, 1941, his unit, the 33rd Infantry Division was federalized and sent to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. About the same time he was promoted to corporal. He was selected to attend Officers Candidate School and completed the three month course on December 18, 1941. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and his new serial number was O 451 713. He received additional training at Fort Ord, California. In March 1942, he was sent to Camp San Luis Obispo, California, where he joined Company F, 164th Infantry Regiment. He was then sent to New Caledonia in the fall 1942, where he joined Troop B, Mobile Combat Reconnaissance Squadron, Americal Division. He may have been sent there because the Army was putting together an independent force to defend New Caledonia against a possible Japanese invasion.
During the Battle of Guadalcanal the Ameircal Division was sent to the island to relieve the 1st Marine Division and landed on October 13, 1942. For three days from October 24th to 27th it withstood repeated attacks by the Japanese inflicting over 2,000 Japanese casualties. In November they took part in the offensive across the Matanikau River. In January the division took part in an attack on Japanese positions on Hills 27 and 31.
It was on January 4, 1943, that Philip volunteered to take a patrol out to determine what damage had been 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 of troops easy for both sides. American observers could see Doherty’s body, but troops sent in to recover him were 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.
His wife received a telegram from the War Department.
MRS JEANETTE D DOHERTY
1417 SOUTH 17TH AVENUE
MAYWOOD ILLINOIS
THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND FIRST LIETUENANT PHILIP H DOHERTY HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION SINCE JANUARY 2 PERIOD IF FURTHER DETAILS OR OTHER INFORMATION ARE RECEIVED YOU WILL BE PROMPTLY NOTIED PERIOD
ULIO
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
It is known that on June 2, 1943, his wife received a letter stating that Philip was Missing in Action and presumed dead
On 4th January 43, 1st Lt. Philip H. Doherty O-451713 Troop “B” Mobile Combat Recon Sq., Division was leading a partol which was attempting to ascertain damage to an enemy position. Lt. Doherty was shot down approximately five yards from the enemy position and attempts to reach his body were stopped by enemy fire. Lt. Doherty’s body was under observation of a Marine OP for the remaining daylight hours, approximately four hours, and they reported that during that time they had seen no signs of any movement by Lt. Doherty.
I firmly believe that Lt. Doherty could not have survived through the heat of day in a wounded condition, as the spot where he fell had no shade and the day was extremely hot.
On July 20, 1943, First Lieutenant Philip H. Doherty was awarded the Silver Star. His citation read:
PHILIP H. DOHERTY, (O-451713), First Lieutenant, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action at Guadalcanal from December 14, 1952, to January 4, 1943, During this period, Lieutenant Doherty volunteered to go on reconnaissance patrols in rear of enemy lines to ascertain their weapons, strength and positions. On January 4, 1943. Lieutenant Doherty failed to return from a mission in which he aggressively led a patrol into a known enemy position. Next of Kin: Jeanette D. Doherty, Wife, 1417 South 17th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois.
By Command of Lieutenant General HARMON:
From August 9, 1947 to October 27, 1947, 3 officers and 32 enlisted men returned to the area on Guadalcanal and attempted to recover Philip’s body but had no success. Reports indicated that the local residents were interviewed but nothing was learned. On January 4, 1944 two years after Philip was killed in action, the Adjutant General’s Office made a “find of death” that” for Philip. His wife received a letter dated January 21, 1944, telling her of the finding. She received another letter, dated December 5, 1946, stating that Philip’s date of death would from that date on be considered to be January 4, 1943. Philip’s wife remarried in 1947.
At this time, Philip Doherty’s family has contributed DNA to see if remains found by U.S. Army Human Resource Command are his remains.
