Commander Penhollow was commissioned into the United States Navy on May 12, 1934. He entered active service on April 14, 1941 and was initially stationed at the District Communications Office at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Waukegan, Illinois. From April 1941 through September of 1943 Homer Penhollow served as a Communications Watch Officer at Great Lakes, Illinois.

On September 30, 1943 he was sent to Numea, New Caledonia and formed Communication Unit 39. As Officer in Charge of this unit he established and operated initial Naval Communications on Green Island in the Northern Solomon Islands.

On March 7, 1944 General MacArthur's forces attacked the main Japanese base in the South Pacific at Manus Island. After ten days of fighting, the island was in the hands of the US Army. Eight days after the surrender of Manus Island, Lieutenant Commander Penhollow formed 41-A. With the help of 75 officers and 900 enlisted men he established and operated initial and permanent Naval communication facilities on Manus, the largest of the Admiralty Islands and the largest sea port in the South Pacific. From Spetember 1944 to January 1945 Homer was Officer in Charge of all naval base communication operations. At that time the Japanese High Command had surrendered the island, but many Japanese soldiers had not given up as they had vowed to fight to the death. Many were left behind after the surrender. Sniper attacks were common occurrences.

Homer and his men maintained communications between the ships of the Third, and Seventh Fleets under the commands of Admiral "Bull" Halsey and Vice Admiral D.E.Barbey known as Uncle Dan the Amphibious Man. Radio Manus (RADPAC1) under the command of Lieutenant Commander Penhollow intercepted, deciphered and transmitted Japanese radio communications to Navy Intelligence Units in Honolulu (HYPO), Melbourne (Belconnen) and Washington DC (CNO-OP20). Radio Manus and its communications network reported locations and movements of enemy ships and aircraft throughout the South Pacific Theatre. For his efforts he received a personal commendation from Admiral Halsey who sent this restricted message

"...please pass to Radio Honolulu and Radio Manus x the rapid and efficient handling of unprecedented heavy load of vital operational traffic contributed no small part in the crushing defeat of the nip fleet x Well Done Halsey..."

with instructions to pass this message to inform CINCPAC the intelligence team of Admiral Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the Pacific; and COMINCH, the intelligence team of Admiral King, Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet in Washington DC. Vice Admiral D.E.Barbey Commander of the Seventh Fleet commended Homer "...for distinguishing himself as a Communication Officer at a Naval Base in the Admiralty Islands from 26 March 1944 to 12 January 1945. Lieutenant Commander Penhollow initially placed in operation the Base Communication System and subsequently planned, constructed and operated the communication department, handling a large flow of traffic in an extraordinary manner. This center was a most important link in the communication system during the entire Phillipine Campaigns, and its efficient operation was due to his resourcefulness." Vice Admiral Barbey was cautious not to state the location of Radio Manus at that time, but he did identify it as the "center" of communications for the entire Phillipine Campaigns.

Captain H.J.Murray, Officer in Charge of the Australian Allied Intelligence Bureau, at Manus sent Homer a letter from the Royal Australian Navy "...to express my great appreciaition of your splendid assistance rendered up to us.."

On October 13, 1944 an incoming message from the USS Appalachian to tower Lorengau (at the northeast end of Manus) stated; "appreciation for your help in delivering our voluminous visual traffic x How one singleman are to be complimented on their efficiency under the pressure of the last ten days x a difficult job well handled", signed Staff Signal Officer BT.

At the completion of his duties and the end of the largest battle in Naval history at Leyte Gulf and the completion of the Phillipine campaigns, Homer was promoted to Commander and sent to Washington DC to work with The Chief Naval Operations (CNO 0P-20 Intelligence) and was Head of the Communications Office under the Director of Naval Communications (DNC). Homer was stationed there until his release from active duty on March 7, 1946.

His oath of secrecy was maintained until his death on December 26, 1990. His loving wife and three sons never heard "war stories". Isn't it remarkable, that this man raised in a small Nebraska town with love and Christian guidance, and who sent his first Morse code message using an automobile coil and car battery, would use the knowledge acquired from his youthful interest in radio to play such an important role in outcome of the largest war in world history.

Upon return to his home his wife Adeline and two sons an even more difficult challange presented itself. Re-introduction to Adeline was no problem. When Homer arrived home, Adeline told Donnie (their 2 year old son) "the man at the door was his daddy". Donnie promply walked to the picture of Homer where so many prayers were made for his father's safe return. He pointed to Homer's picture and said, "That's my nudder (other) daddy." Family life, the biggest challange of all, was presented all of a sudden. Donnie's older brother Jimmie didn't know his father either.. A few years later, the birth of their third son Rich completed the family.

Don Penhollow ["Donnie" above]
May 12, 1995
submitted to the Lapeer County Press for Memorial Day Issue 14 June 1995

12 March 1944: Unit 39 moved, with help from the Third Amphibious Force and the First Marine Division and Third COntruction Brigade to Manus in the Admiralty Islands. At the South Pacific's largest seaport, Laurengau. Penhollow established Unit 41, set up and operated Naval communications facilities at U.S.Naval Advance Base Manus (3205) "one of the largest and most important communications facilties in the United States Communications Service (Capt. P.R.Kinney)". From Spetember 1944 to January 1945 Homer commanded all naval base communications operations with 75 officers and 900 enlisted men.

29 August 1944: AOIC, Air Operational Intelligence Command was assigned to Penhollow and Unit 41. Vital operational radio traffic and urgent reports of movements, air attack intent, etc. were recieved and sent to Fleets so they could coordinate with the Army Air Force. The ciruit "Manus Fox" was used and required a double head code before transmission.

23 October 1944: The largest naval battle in world history at Leyte Gulf began. Radio Manus (Radpac1) maintained communications with Admiral William F.Halsey's Third Fleet, Admiral Raymond R.Spruance's Fifth Fleet and Vice Admiral Daniel E.Barbey's Seventh Fleet, Hawaii, Washington DC, Australia and all land, sea and air forces in the Phillipines Campaigns. Radpac1 intercepted, deciphered and jammed Japanese radio communications. Penhollow and his men provided superior intelligence, code breaking and "rapid and efficient handling of unprecedented heavy load of vital operational traffice (that) contributed no small part in the crushing defeat of the nip fleet, well done, Halsey."

March 1945: Homer was sent to Washington D.C. He worked under the Chief of Naval Operations (Director of Naval Communications) and was promoted to Commander with communications intelligence duties as Head of the communications office.

Commendations: Admiral "Bull" Halsey (Third Fleet), Vice Admiral "Uncle Dan the Amphibious Man" Barbey (Seventh Fleet), and personal letters of appreciation Captain H.J.Murray, Officer in Charge, Australian Intelligence Bureau, Manus. And, from James Forestall, Secretary of the Navy who sent his praise of Commander Penhollow's work after Penhollow's release from active duty to avoid confidential status and use as an employment reference.

Donald L Penhollow. Nov 22, 1997