Tramble Oresta Armstrong (abt. 1923 - 1942)

Born about 11 Dec 1923 in Brewton, Escambia, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Died 6 May 1942 at about age 18 in Central Luzon, Philippines

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This profile is part of the Armstrong Name Study.

Biography

Tramble Armstrong was declared Killed in Action after being reported MIA during World War II.

Tramble Armstrong was Missing in Action during World War II.

Private First Class Tramble Armstrong served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II
Service started: 20 Nov 1939
Unit(s): Company I, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines
Service ended: 6 May 1942 (MIA Assumed dead)

When Tramble Oresta Armstrong was born on December 11, 1923, in Brewton, Alabama, ^[1] his father, John, was 26 and his mother, Ida, was 25. He had one brother and four sisters. He was declared missing on May 6, 1942 while serving in World War 2. His body was never recovered. It is assumed he died in Manilla, Philippines.

Military

Tramble Armstrong is a purple heart recipient

Tramble joined the marines in November 1939. ^[4]

After induction, he headed to the recruit depot in San Diego, California in Dec of 1939 with the rank of Private. ^[5] In Jan of 1940, the Marines sent him with a detachment to the USS New Mexico (BB-40) out of the Puget Sound ^[6]

By March 1940, he boarded USS Pyro (AE–1), heading to Mare Island where he would transfer to the USS Henderson. ^[7] which subsequently carried him to the Navy Yard in Cavite, Philippines. ^[8]

"PFC Tramble Armstrong participated in the defense of Corregidor as a member of Company I, 4th Marines. On the night of 5 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island and overwhelmed the garrison, which surrendered at 1200 hours the following day.

"Armstrong and Corporal Reid C. Chamberlain, along with a handful of sailors and Filipino fighters, managed to escape from Corregidor via a small motor launch. The two Marines lived on the lam for several months before securing another boat for an attempted journey to China. Blown back to the Philippines by storms, they then separated to join different guerilla bands.

After taking leave of Chamberlain, Armstrong was never seen again. His ultimate fate is unknown."

He was awarded the Purple Heart, but his body was never recovered. ^[9][10][11]

However, Platoon Sargeant Harry W. Pinto gave testimony on 5 Aug 1943 that he believed Armstrong and Chamberlain were killed in action by enemy machine gun fire.^[12]

But that differs from the family accounting told to the Pensacola News Journal. According to that story, he was killed as a prisoner of war after being sold-out to the Japanese by Borneo Natives. ^[13]

Edgar D Whitcomb (Previous governor of Indiana) mentions Tramble Armstrong in his book Escape From Corregidor. (Copywrite 1958) In Chapter 10, he retells meeting Tramble and Corporal Chamberlain hiding in the Philippine jungle. He says "he's tall, well built, blond Norwegian weighing about 180 pounds. He is a wild, cocky chap who thinks there isn't anything in the world he can't lick. However. he's very good natured and loses his temper only when he is called 'Swede.' We always called him 'Army."^[14]

Memorials

He has a memorial at Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines. ^[15][16]and a memorial at Pensacola Memorial in Pensacola, Fl, but his body was never recovered. ^[17]

Conflicts and Research Notes

His headstone lists his birth year as 1915, however, his older non-twin sister Ida Pearl was born in September of 1915 ^[18], so he could not have been born in December of 1915. The 1930 census lists his birth year as 1923^[1]. Tramble was only 19 when he died ^[19]. I believe his headstone is incorrect, as Ida Pearl WAS 7 years older than Tramble.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3F7G-16Z : accessed 8 March 2019), Tramble O Armstrong in household of John H Armstrong, Brewton, Escambia, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 3, sheet 2A, line 24, family 39, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 15; FHL microfilm 2,339,750.
2. ↑ Tramble O Armstrong enlisted in the Marines on November 20, 1939.Ancestry Record 1089 #7583158 (Image: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/15556312?h=a1f800)
3. ↑ Ancestry Record 4283 #3466 Name: Tramble O Armstrong Inducted From: Louisiana Rank: Private First Class Combat Organization: United States Marine Corps Death Date: 6 May 1942 Monument: Fort William Mckinley, Manila, the Philippines Last Known Status: Missing U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal
4. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46239782/brewton-young-man-joins-us-marines/ Brewton Young Man Joins US Marines The Brewton Standard Brewton, Alabama 23 Nov 1939, Thu • Page 1
5. ↑ Tramble O Armstrong was listed on the Marine muster rolls in December 1939.Ancestry Record 1089 #11724675 (Image: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/15556345?h=549969)
6. ↑ Ancestry Record 1089 #7595707 Name: Tramble O Armstrong Muster Date: Jan 1940 Rank: Private Station: Marine Detachment, Uss New Mexico, Psnyd, Bremerton, Washington
7. ↑ Ancestry Record 1143 #20464782 Image: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/15559340?h=32037c Name: Tramble O Armstrong Ship, Station or Activity: Pyro Ship Number or Designation: AE-1 Muster Date: 7 Mar 1940
8. ↑ Muster Rolls of the U.S. Marine Corps, 1798-1892. Microfilm Publication T1118, 123 rolls. ARC ID: 922159. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C. Ancestry Record 1089 #7675594 Image: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/15559778?h=227c9a
9. ↑ MissingMarines.com
10. ↑ Ancestry.com, U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.) ations, Inc. TID 0 Name: Footnote Ancestry.com, U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.) Name: ShortFootnote Ancestry.com, U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 Name: Bibliography Ancestry.com. U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.19 Name: Page Ancestry Record 2324 #102305 Image:https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/15555296?h=ab746e
11. ↑ 8th Naval District Casualty List; Alabama, United States 116 Name: Page 8th Naval District Casualty List; Alabama, United States Ancestry Record 1763 #14678 (Image: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/15555341?h=55c985&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url)
12. ↑ [Platoon Sargeant Pinto's Testimony]
13. ↑ WWII Marine Put to Rest in Pensacola more than 60 years later. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46238979/trambles-body-was-never-recovered-but/ Pensacola News Journal Pensacola, Florida 17 Nov 2006, Fri • Page 62
14. ↑ Escape from Corregidor
15. ↑ National Archives and Records Administration, World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas (Ancestry.com Operations Inc) conflict Veterans Interred Overseas conflict Veterans Interred Overseas. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. TID 0 Name: Footnote National Archives and Records Administration, World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas (Ancestry.com Operations Inc) Name: ShortFootnote National Archives and Records Administration, World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas Name: Bibliography National Archives and Records Administration. World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas. Ancestry.com Operations Inc.37 Name: Page Ancestry Record 4283 #3466
16. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 June 2020), memorial page for PFC Tramble Oresta “Army” Armstrong (15 Dec 1923–1942), Find a Grave Memorial no. Find A Grave: Memorial #56758667, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines ; Maintained by Alicia Taylor (contributor 49419954) .
17. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 June 2020), memorial page for PFC Tramble Oresta “Army” Armstrong (11 Dec 1915–6 May 1942), Find a Grave Memorial no. Find A Grave: Memorial #52264605, citing Pensacola Memorial Gardens, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, USA ; Maintained by Curt (contributor 47797560) .
18. ↑ Ida Pearl's FindAGrave
19. ↑ Family sources