1943 – Oct 2, Hauser Creek wildfire, servicemen killed, Barrett Lake area, Southern CA-10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-25-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–11  National Park Service. Timeline: Large Fires and Fatalities. 

–10  Hinds, Jim. When death stalked the mountains – the tragic Hauser Canyon brushfire.

— 8   Corona Daily Independent, CA. “Forest Fire, Which Takes Eight Lives…” 10-5-1943, p. 2.

— 7   Report on Casualties and Injuries of [USMC] Men on Hauser Creek Fire…Oct 2, 1943.

 Blanchard note: In that Jim Hinds notes 10 fatalities by name, two several months later from injuries, we choose to use his death toll rather than the National Park Service which does not name fatalities.

Narrative Information

Hinds, Jim. When death stalked the mountains – the tragic Hauser Canyon brushfire:

“Saturday, October 2, 1943. A brush fire in Hauser Canyon was detected at approximately 10:30 in the morning burning along Cottonwood Creek in the Cleveland National Forest. Cottonwood Creek flows westward through the canyon from Morena Lake to Barrett Lake, both part of San Diego’s water system.

 

“Hauser Canyon is narrow, with steep, high hills on both sides, and thick brush growing all the way down to the rocks along the creek. A narrow roadway extends through the canyon….

 

“So far military forces in this region of southeastern San Diego County had been kept busy fighting fires throughout the summer. The largest military facility in the region was Camp Lockett where the Army’s, 2nd Cavalry Division’s 4th Cavalry Brigade was stationed. Both of its two regiments had been busy fighting wildfires that somehow always seemed to break out on the weekends.

 

“While smaller in size, the Marine Corps training camp at Pine Valley was the other military facility in the region helping to fight fires. Started at a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp in 1942, the Marine Corps had a signal company and transportation company stationed there, and trained 110 men at the camp every eight weeks.

 

“Personnel from both camps received firefighting training from United States Forestry Service personnel. An officer and non-commissioned officer from each-troop within the 10th and 28th cavalry regiments at Camp Lockett had attended this training. The knowledge they gained from this one-day course they were to impart to the men in their units. Their training included lecture and practical experience in fighting small brushfires. These fires were deliberately started for them to practice firefighting skills.

 

“When the Forest Service requested military assistance in fighting this fire the Marines at Pine Valley were given the mission. Because of limited documentation on this facility there is no way to determine how extensive the Marines firefighting experience was during the summer of 1943 prior to this fire. Nonetheless, a force of 80 men was assembled and loaded onto trucks.

 

“The fire was burning approximately 10 miles south of Pine Valley…

 

“Accompanying the Marines that afternoon was Buel B. Hunt, the Cleveland National Forest’s training officer, and Jack Hemdon, a Forest Service guard. Hunt had been in charge of training the Marines and other servicemen in how to fight brush fires in this area.

 

“After nearly two hours on the fire line Hunt and the Marines found themselves forced into Hauser Canyon and were trapped between the steep slopes of the canyon at 2:15. What occurred next in Hauser Canyon could only be described as hell in a very small place….

 

Fatalities noted by name in this article.

 

  1. Private First Class Ismael W. Wesson, USMC
  2. Private Norman L. Shook Jr., USMC
  3. Private Ralph C. Peters, USMC
  4. Private Wilbur B. Rossen, USMC
  5. Corporal Elmer C. Winkleman, USMC.
  6. Private First Class Lowell R. Whetsel, USMC
  7. Private Roger D. Kirkpatrick, USMC
  8. Private Frank C. Rogers, USMC, died December 1 in San Diego hospital.
  9. Private First Class George F. Lehamn, USMC, died March 3, 1944
  10. Corporal Leroy Carter, US Army, Service Troop, 10th

 

National Park Service: “The fire burns 10,000 acres, kills 11 U.S. Marines and injures 72 others. Fire started by gunnery practice.”  (NPS.  Timeline:  Large Fires and Fatalities.)

 

Wildfiretoday.com: “….Below are listed the casualties of the forest fire in the vicinity of Cottonwood and Hauser Creeks, approximately 16 miles south of Camp Pine Valley…

 

Shook, Norman L. Jr. Pvt. …USMCR – died 2 October, 1943…Indianapolis, Indiana.

Wesson, Ishmael W. PFC…USMC – died 2 October, 1943…Route 1, Milan, Tenn.

Peters, Ralph C. Pvt. …USMCR – died 2 October 1943. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Winkelman, Elmer C. Corp. USMCR – died 3 October 1943…Route #3, Red Bluff, CA.

Kirkpatrick, Roger D. Pvt. …USMCR – died 3  October, 1943…Seattle, Washington.

Whetsel, Lowell R. PFC. …USMCR – died 3 October, 1943…Anderson, Indiana.

Rossen, Wilbur V. Pvt. …USMCR – died 3 October 1943…Rt. 1, So. St. Paul, Minn.

 

Newspaper

 

Oct 4, AP: “San Diego, Oct. 4 – (AP) – Identity of five marines burned fatally while battling a timber and brush fire in a mountainous area near Barrett Lake, 45 miles southeast of here, was disclosed by 11th Naval District headquarters today. The victims were:

 

Pfc. Lowell Rexford Whetsel, Anderson, Ind.

Pvt. Norman T. Shook Jr., 19, Indianapolis, Ind.

Pfc. Ishmael Worth Wesson, 20, Milan, Tenn.

Pvt. Ralph Clay Peters, 22, Tulsa, Okla.

Pfc. Wilber Vincent Rossen, 20, South St. Paul, Minn.

 

“The blaze, which has charred more than 6500 acres of valuable watershed since breaking out Saturday morning [Oct 2], was still uncontrolled today and being fought by hundreds of soldiers and marines who have reinforced Federal and State forestry crews.

 

“Those killed were among more than 80 men trapped between a steep slope and advancing flames. The group was forced to battle through the blaze to safety. Seventy-five marines were injured, 12 critically, and two civilians of the Forestry Service suffered minor burns.” (Assoc. Press. “Names of Marine Fire Victims Told by Coast Command.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 10-4-1943, p. 7.)

 

Oct 5, Corona Daily Independent: “The local ranger station of the U.S. Forest Service reported today that the fire, which has been raging since last Saturday about 45 miles east of San Diego, is still not under control Eight U.S. Marines were fatally burned in fighting the fire, while 70 others suffered severe burns, as did two Forestry men. It is under stood the Marines had volunteered their services as fire fighters. The fire already has covered about 17,000 acres. Its origin has not been determined.” (Corona Daily Independent, CA. “Forest Fire, Which Takes Eight Lives, Not Under Control.” 10-5-1943, p. 2.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Names of Marine Fire Victims Told by Coast Command.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 10-4-1943, p. 7. Accessed 4-25-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-oct-04-1943-p-7/

 

Corona Daily Independent, CA. “Forest Fire, Which Takes Eight Lives, Not Under Control.” 10-5-1943, p. 2. Accessed 4-25-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/corona-daily-independent-oct-05-1943-p-2/

 

Hinds, Jim. When death stalked the mountains – the tragic Hauser Canyon brushfire. Cleveland National Forest Heritage Program. Accessed 4-25-2024 at: http://ppolinks.com/forestservicemuseum/M1992_63_1.pdf

 

National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Timeline:  Large Fires and Fatalities.  Accessed 4-26-2009 at:  http://www.nps.gov/fire/utility/uti_tl_largefirestext.cfm

 

Wildfiretoday.com. Report on Casualties and Injuries of U.S. Marine Corps Men on Hauser Creek Fire, Cleveland National Forest, October 2, 1943. W. O. Fire Control Files. Accessed 4-25-2024 at: https://wildfiretoday.com/documents/Hauser_Creek_Report_1943.pdf