War heroes remembered: 'He knew he wasn't coming back to Traverse City'

May 26—TRAVERSE CITY — At the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula is American Legion Post 399.

On the first and third Tuesday night of each month, members of the post gather for a family-style meal to discuss veterans' concerns, catch up with one another, share stories, and talk about community engagement.

In a recent memo to members, commander William "Rudy" Rudolph said that their objective of the post, since 1962, was to "exist as a memorial to these local, young men and to the sacrifices this community has made through the years with the lives of its young men and women, in service to our country."

The post is named for John Sill Garland and Robert Carl Tompkins, two men from Traverse City region who perished in World War II's Pacific theater.

On the walls of the meeting hall are photographs, commendations and citations honoring the bravery of each man.

Garland was born on Old Mission Peninsula in 1923. When World War II kicked off, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps while he was working in an aircraft factory. It was 1943, and he was 20. His brother, Howard, also enlisted in the Army and served in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division during the war.

Garland trained as a gunner on B-29 bombers, rose to the rank of sergeant and deployed with the 873rd Bomber Squadron to the South Pacific. He served as left gunner on the aircraft "T Square 1."

On Dec. 13, 1944, his unit was stationed in Saipan when his aircraft departed with 79 other bombers on a bombing mission over Japan. Upon completion of a successful mission, they were attacked by Japanese aircraft. Two crew members were wounded in the ensuing battle, and an engine and cockpit instruments were lost.

Unable to fly, the aircraft was "ditched" at sea with the loss of the entire "T Square 1" crew of 11, including Garland. In total, 44 men died on that mission.

For years, there were many questions surrounding the last moments of Garland's life. But in the early 2010s, after the death of his wife, Howard was going through some old belongings and found letters, awards, and certificates that belonged to his brother.

"He wanted John to be remembered, and felt that it was best that the post here had those awards," said Keith Smith, Post 399 member, "so we had a plaque made up to hang on our wall."

Smith, who spent 20-plus years as an investigator with the Trenton Police Department, did some research about Sgt. John Garland. After nine months, he found some long-buried answers.

"I discovered the transcripts of that last radio transmission," Smith said. "When everything was going down, Sgt. Garland knew he wasn't coming home."

John Korzek, another Post 399 member and Vietnam War veteran, recalled stories Howard would tell about his brother.

"When he read that last radio transmission, he wanted to bring him home," Korzek said. "He talked about how they dreamed of buying a farm together on Old Mission Peninsula."

Robert (Bob) Tompkins was born on Old Mission Peninsula in 1920. In late 1941, he chose to enlist in the United States Navy, and worked his way to First Class Petty Officer by the fall of 1944.

After basic training, Tompkins opted for advancement in rating as a quartermaster, one of the oldest specialties in the Navy at the time. The position is on the bridge of a ship, assisting deck watch officers with navigation, maintaining charts and logs, and acting as the ship's helmsman (who steers the ship).

In September 1944, Tompkins was First Class Quartermaster on the USS Mount Hood when it arrived at Seeadler Harbor, in the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea. The harbor was a staging area for ships supporting the invasion of the Philippines.

With a length of 459 feet, the ship was an armed cargo ship carrying 4,000 tons of explosives intended to the support the invasion. On Nov. 10, a catastrophe occurred: The ship exploded in the harbor, vaporizing the ship and the men onboard. The explosion also damaged 22 ships anchored nearby.

Altogether, 372 crew members were killed, and 371 were injured. No human remains were recovered from the tragedy. QM1 Tompkins is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines, as well as in the Ogdensburg Cemetery on Old Mission Peninsula.

With so many World War II veterans gone, Korzek said keeping the memories of these men alive is more imperative than ever on Memorial Day.

"We have to be reminded that the freedoms we enjoy are not free," he said. "But we also want our future servicemen and women to know that their service will be remembered, too."

Howard Garland died in 2018 at the age of 92, but not before they had a chance to rededicate the post to both John Garland and Robert Tompkins. The event was also attended by the family of Robert Tompkins, including relative Jackie Thomas, whose husband, Bruce, will take over as post commander in June. She said that, in July, there will be a reunion of Tompkins family members, where they will share stories and memories of Robert at the meeting hall.

"We should have 50 or so here that day," Thomas said. "It's going to be a special day for all of us."