Second Lieutenant Robert Conderman and First lieutenant George Graves reviewed last-minute instructions just as Japanese bombers began their attack on Wake Island. Graves managed to reach his Wildcat, but a direct hit from a bomber caused his plane to burst into flames. He was killed instantly.
Conderman ran to his aircraft and was strafed by the enemy before he reached it. As he was lying injured on the ground, a bomber targeted his plane. The explosion launched debris toward him and pinned him under the wreckage. Conderman died from his injuries before morning.
Fred Conderman was working as an assistant postmaster in New Bern, NC. When he received the news about his son, he vowed revenge. He tried enlisting in every military branch but was turned down due to his age. When he approached the Marine Corps, he was offered a mail service job and accepted on the condition that they send him to the Pacific theater. He was promoted to Captain and shipped to Guadalcanal.
His mission was to establish a post office on the ship, but when the Marines were heading to shore, Fred joined them in the amphibious landing. Although amazed, his Colonel scolded him and said,
"I told you to stay on the boat until we set up a post office."
Fred replied,
"You know why I'm here. I'm not neglecting my postal duties, sir."
He later opened a post office on Guadalcanal but frequently joined Marines on patrols and other firefights. One Marine reported,
"He more than evened the score."
In 1944, the National Father's Day committee named him the fighting father of the year. In March 1945, Real Life Comics no. 22 released a five-page comic titled "Major Fred D. Conderman."
