Thomas C. Latimore

Commander Thomas Calloway Latimore, service number 0-008659,  loved to hike and took the opportunity to hike in the beautiful mountains on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. He was last seen on 18 July 1941, headed for the mountains above the town of Aiea, which overlooks Pearl Harbor. He was never seen or heard from again, despite the area having been combed by his men and others. Several theories developed which held that he may have come across some preparations being made for the attack, and killed to prevent him from interfering. He was officially declared dead on 19 July 1942.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 21, 1941
Navy and army searches continued their efforts today to find Cmdr. Thomas C. Latimore, captain of the destroyer tender Dobbin, who failed to return Friday evening from a hike in the hills back of Aiea. A force of 200 men from the Dobbin combed the hills Sunday and today after a party of 50  men from the ship failed to find any trace of the missing officer Saturday. The navy’s use of planes in the search was discontinued due to the impossibility of sighting a person in the dense growth in the hills, naval authorities said. Cmdr. Latimore, who frequently went on hikes alone, was last seen at 1 p.m. Friday, when he started into the Aiea hills, it was reported. He was described as being six feet one inch in height and weighing about 180 pounds, having blue eyes and gray hair. He was dressed in khaki, wore a felt hat and carried a walking stick when he left for the hike, naval authorities said. An intensive search of the area in which Cmdr. Latimore was reported lost was started at 6 a.m. Saturday by both army and navy rescue parties. Army authorities said that at various times from 10 to 80 army searchers have been engaged in the search, in conjunction with efforts by the navy. The detachments consist to a large extent of men who are familiar with the rough terrain back of Aiea, authorities said. Army parties include medical officers, and portable radio equipment is in use, it was reported. The search has continued through both Saturday and Sunday nights, army authorities said. Born in Tennessee on June 28, 1890, Cmdr. Latimore has a wife and two daughters living in Newport, R.I.

From the McCallie:

Commander Tom Latimore is missing in the line of duty in August 1941 on Oahu, Hawaii, and has been officially declared dead. Since Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of the war with the Japanese it is believed that Tom Latimore was a victim of Japanese espionage. It was his habit and perhaps his duty to take solitary walks over the island of Oahu. During one of those walks, after Tom has been landed by a small boat, he lost his life. He was seen on a hillside by the men who had come to pick him up and suddenly he disappeared. Though a search was made for him, his body was never found. It is believed that the Japanese made away with him. He is survived by his wife and two daughters and two brothers, William S. Latimore ’11 and David S. Latimore ’15.