About

Eugene Edgar Umpleby, the son of Joseph and Pearl (Brown) Umpleby, was born in 1907, in Watervliet, New York.

Eugene enlisted in the United States Navy sometime around 1930. He held the rank of Chief Water Tender and was assigned to the USS Peary. The USS Peary was based in Darwin, Australia, during the start of 1942. She operated out of Darwin in January and a portion of February, focusing mostly on anti-submarine patrol. A single-motored Japanese dive bomber attacked the USS Peary on February 19, 1942, at 10:45 am, killing 80 crew members and injuring 13. At around 1:00 pm, Peary sank stern first. Eugene is remembered at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines.

Sources: Naval History and Heritage Command, Find A Grave, Ancestry