USS HOUSTON CA 30

“The galloping Ghost of the Java Coast”

Albert Neal Tanberg

Uncle Al was born in Fostoria, OH on March 17, 1920. He died on November 2, 1944 at French Indo China in a Jap prison camp during World War 2 (as quoted in his funeral book at service on Wednesday December 29, 1948 in Fostoria, OH). He is buried next to his grandparents in the Fountain Cemetery in Fostoria. He graduated from New Washington High School, New Washington, OH on May 23, 1938 and enlisted in the US Navy at Cleveland, OH on 4/19/39. He was a Baker 3C and joined the Houston on 8/27/39. He was a member of the Houston Wrestling Team.

Al's father, Henry Tanberg, was an immigrant from Bergen (near Oslo), Norway and came to the US through Ellis Island. Henry was a baker by profession. Children were Albert, Yvonne (Sheri's mother) lives in Hanford, CA, Robert J. lives in Lancaster, CA and Norma lives in Walbridge, OH (near Toledo). Robert and Yvonne joined the Navy when they heard of Brother Al being missing and POW.

Copy of Letter to the Parents from the Navy

In reply address not the signer of this

letter, but Bureau of Naval Personnel,

Navy Department, Washington, D. C.

Refer to No.

283 27 02

Pers-5323a-Mic

NAVY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL

WASHINGTON 25, D.C.

29 August 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Tanberg

132 Liberty Street

Bowling Green, Ohio

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Tanberg:

Confirming this Bureau's dispatch to you of 17 August 1944, you are advised that the Navy Department, through the medium of the Postal Censor Authorities, has learned that mail from your son, Albert Neal Tanberg, Baker third clues, United. States Navy has been mailed from Japanese territory. While your son has not been officially reported by the Japanese Government as a prisoner of war, the mailing of this correspondence is regarded by the Navy Department as acceptable evidence that he is in fact a prisoner of war and is being held in Branch No. 3 Thai War Prisoners Gump Nike, Thailand.

The Prisoner of War Information Bureau, Office of the Provost Marshal General, War Department, Washington, D. C., has cognizance of all matters pertaiding to prisoners of war, and will write to you and explain the proper way in which mail may be sent to your son.

While the report that your son is a prisoner of war may afford little comfort, it strengthens the hope shared by all that he will return safely to you and his home.

By direction of the Chief of Naval Personnel.

Sincerely yours,

Walter W. Fluke Lieutenant Commander, U. S. N. R.

Acting Director of the Dependents Welfare Division