Shannon Kent is the only female naval cryptologist killed in action in the history of the United States!  From the beginning of the Naval Security Group through FCC/C10F there have been a total of 93 cryptologists killed in action.

Listed below are those cryptologists who were killed in action. Some on this list are not cryptologists, but have been associated with cryptologic work. Although their lives are precious, the count of 93 does not include them.

16 January 2019 – CTICS(IW/EXW) Shannon M. Kent, USN, KIA in Manbij, Syria while supporting Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolved.

13 March 2013 – CTTC(EXW/IDW/SW) Christian Pike, USN, died in Landstuhl, Germany due to head wound/injuries received while providing intelligence support in support of Naval Special Warfare and Afghan Commando operations.

17 January 2012 – LT Thomas C. Fouke, USN, died during physical training preparing to support Naval Special Warfare.

6 August 2011 – IT1 Jared W. Day, USN and CTR1 Michael J. Strange, USN, KIA in Afghanistan while supporting NAVAL Special Warfare.

5 February 2011 – SGT Lucas T. Pyeatt, USMC, KIA while serving in Afghanistan.

21 September 2010 – CTRCS David “Blake” McLendon, USN, KIA in Afghanistan while supporting Naval Special Warfare.

20 September 2008 – CTM3 Mathew J O’Bryant, USN, KIA while serving in Islamabad, Pakistan.

17 July 2008 – 1st Lt. Jason D. Mann, USMC, was KIA in Garmsir, Afghanistan while serving as an Arab linguist, reconnaissance professional and ground intelligence officer.

6 July 2007 – CTT1(SW) Steven P. Daugherty, USN, KIA in Iraq while supporting Naval Special Warfare.

12 October 2000 – USS Cole (DDG-67) was attacked while refueling in the Yemini port of Aden killing 17 Sailors, including EW2 Kevin S Rux and EW3 Ronald S. Owens.

17 May 1987 – USS Stark (FFG 31) was attacked while serving the Persian Gulf.  32 Sailors were killed, including EW3 Charles T. Moller and EW3 Joseph P. Watson

25 January 1987 – EA-3B went down in the Mediterranean Sea killing CTI1 Patrick R. Price and CTI3 Craig H. Rudolf.  Five other were killed.

3 December 1979 – NSGA Sabana Seca Puerto Rico attacked:
CTO1 John Ball and RM3 Emil White were killed and 10 others were wounded.
21 January 1971 – SGT Robert Hrisoulis, USMC, KIA in Vietnam

12 December 1971 – RG -407 C-2A transport aircraft went down between Philippines and Vietnam killing 10 Sailors, six were Cryptologists:

CTO3 James M. Coon, USN
CTISN John M. Deremigio, USN
CTOI Donald E. Dickerson, USN
CTOSN Stephen H. Elliott, USN
CTRI Walter R. Woods, Jr., USN
CTM2 Gregory K. Zeller, USN

10 March 1970 – SGT Larry Wade Duke, USMC, KIA in Vietnam

13 May 1968 – SGT Paul Jay Kingery, USMC, KIA in Vietnam

3 May 1968 – CPL William Ivan Inman, USMC, KIA in Vietnam

3 May 1968 – CPL Walter James Dancer, USMC, KIA in Vietnam

24 April 1968 – LCPL Larry Allan Jones , USMC, KIA in Vietnam

28 December 1969 – MGYsGY Edward R Storm, USMC, and CTC Robert S. Gates, USN, KIA in Vietnam.

22 January 1968 – USS Pueblo (AGTR-2) captured by the North Koreans. FN Duane Hodges KIA during the attack in the Sea of Japan.

15 April 1969 – EC-121 Begger Shadow shotdown over the Sea of Japan, off the coast of North Korea.  31 men were killed, nine were Cryptologists:

ADR2 Louis F Balderman, USN
AT1 Stephen C Chartier, USN
AT1 Bernie J Colgin, USN
ADR1Ballard F Connors, Jr, USN
CT3Gary R DuCharme, USN
LT John N Dzema, USN
LT Dennis B Gleason, USN
ATN3Gene K Graham, USN
AEC LaVerne A Greiner, USN
ATR2 Dennis J Horrigan, USN
ATN2 Richard H Kincaid, USN
SSGT Hugh M Lynch, USMC
ADRC Marshall H McNamara, USN
ATR2 Timothy H McNeil, USN
CT3 John A Miller, USN
LCDR James H Overstreet, USN
LT Peter P Perrottey, USN
CT1 John H Potts, USN
AMS3Richard T Prindle, USN
CTC Frederick A. Randall, USN
LTJG Joseph R Ribar, USN
AT1James Leroy Roach, USN
LT John H Singer, USN
CTC Richard E Smith, USN
CT3Philip D Sundby, USN
AT1Richard E Sweeney, USN
LTJG Robert J Sykora, USN
LT Robert F Taylor, USN
CT2 Stephen J Tesmer, USN
ATN3 David M Willis, USN
LTJG Norman E. Wilkerson, USN

10 September 1967 – CPL Stephen Lee Traughber, USMC, KIA in Vietnam.

8 June 1967 – 34 men were KIA off the coast of Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea while serving on the USS Liberty (AGTR-5), 25 were Cryptologists:

CT3 William B. Allenbaugh, USN
LCDR Philip M. Armstrong, Jr. USN
SN Gary R. Blanchard, USN
SN Francis Brown, USN
CT2 Ronnie J. Campbell, USN
CT3 Jerry L. Converse, USN
CT2 Robert B. Eisenberg, USN
CT3 Jerry L. Goss, USN
CTI Curtis A. Graves, USN
CTSN Lawrence P. Hayden, USN
CTI Warren E. Hersey, USN
CTSN Alan Higgins, USN
SN Carl L. Hoar, USN
CT2 Richard W. Keene, Jr., USN
CTSN James L. Lenau, USN
CTC Raymond E. Linn, USN
CTI James M. Lupton, USN
CT3 Duane R. Marggraf, USN
CTSN David W. Marlborough, USN
CT2 Anthony P. Mendle, USN
CTSN Carl C. Nygren, USN
LT James C. Pierce, USN
ICFN David Skolak, USN
CTI John C. Smith, Jr., USN
CTC Melvin D. Smith, USN
PC2 John C. Spicher, USN
GMG3 Alexander N. Thompson, Jr., USN
CT3 Thomas R. Thornton, USN
CT3 Philippe C. Tiedtke, USN
LT Stephen S. Toth, USN
CTI Frederick J. Walton, USN
Sgt Jack L. Raper, USMC
Cpl Edward E. Rehmeyer, USMC
Allen M. Blue, NSA

26 May 1967 – Capt James W. Ayers, USMC, KIA in Vietnam

26 May 1967 – SSGT Alfred T Dwyer, USMC, KIA in Vietnam

25 September 1965 – NSGA Kamiseya, Japan fire killing 12 Cryptologists:

CTSA Roger “W” Alex, USN
CTSA William E. Briley, USN
CTSN Wilford D. Corddell, USN
CTSN Dennis e. Etzwieler, USN
CT3 Archie R. Garofalo, USN
CTSA John d. House, USN
LCPL Richard E. McKown, USMC
LTjg Ernest D. Moody, USN
SGT Paul C. Rodrigues, USMC
CT3 Wayne E. Tower, USN
CTSN James K. Whitman, USN
CT3 Gregory S. Williams, USN

8 April 1950 – CT3 Edward J. Purcell, USN was KIA over the Baltic Sea in PB4Y-2 Privateer.  The aircraft was shot down by a Soviet MIG, 10 Sailors died. (Radio Intelligence)

18 July 1945 –  RM3c Daniel P. Seepe, USN was KIA in Calcutta, India. (Radio Intelligence)

12 May 1945 –  RM1c Walter L. Rougeux, USN was KIA onboard the battleship USS New Mexico (BB 40) as the result of a Kamikaze crash near Okinawa Japan. (Radio Intelligence)

October 24, 1944 – LCDR Francis D. Jordan, USN, was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, on 6 May 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War on the Japanese “Hell Ship,” Arisan Maru.  While in captivity, he was killed on October 24, 1944 when an American submarine sank the Arisan Maru.

23 September 1944 – CPL Joseph A. Prete, USMC, CPL Stephen J. Weber, USMC, and PFC William Hughes, Jr., USMC were KIA at Peleiu Island, Palau Group, Carolina Islands. (Radio Intelligence)

31 July 1944 – LT Walter S. Gifford, USNR and LTJG Delbert Gideon were KIA at Funafuti Lagoon, Funafuti Island, in the South Pacific. (Radio Intelligence)

7 July 1944 – RM2c Lyle J. Jansen, USN and RM2c Robert J. Lynch, USN, were both KIA in Kwelin, China.  (Radio Intelligence)

2 March, 1942, LTjg Ted Adair Hilger (Japanese Language Officer) , KIA USS PILLSBURY (DD 227), Indian Ocean

27 March, 1942 – CRM Walter C. Rathsack, was KIA on board USS Atik (AK 101) when it was sunk by a German U-boat 300 miles east of Portsmouth, Virginia.  CRM Rathsack was the only On-The-Roof Gang member to be killed in action during World War II.  He was a graduate of class #10.   The Atik was sunk and all men on board perished. (Radio Intelligence)

31 December 1941 – YN3c Kenneth F. Grisham was crushed to death by an overturned tractor shortly after the first bombing attack on Corregidor, Philippines.  He was the only casualty suffered by Station “C” while on Corregidor.  He had reported to Station “C” on July 8, 1941 from the USS Houston (CA 30). (Radio Intelligence)

12 February, 1935 – RM1c Earnest Edward Dailey died heroically when the USS Macon (ZRS 5) (airship) crashed off the coast of California.  He remained at his post, sending distress signals, while others manned their abandon ship stations.  He was a graduate of On-The-Roof Gang class #2. (Radio Intelligence)