Robert Louis Stueckle (1928 - 1945)

Born 1928 in Wayne, Michigan, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at about age 17 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 2nd Class Robert Stueckle served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1945
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 2nd Class Robert Stueckle was Killed in Action during World War II.

Robert Stueckle was awarded the Purple Heart.

Robert was born in 1928 in Michigan. He was the son of Paul Stueckle and Ida Marian Anthony.

Robert enlisted in the Navy in 1945. He was received on the USS Indianapolis on 12 May 1945, serving as Seaman 2nd Class.^[1][2][3][4]

In July 1945 the USS Indianapolis was sent on a secret mission to deliver the components of the Little Boy atomic bomb to Tinian Island without an escort, on the return trip, still without escort, it was attacked by a Japanese submarine. The USS Indianapolis sank in 12 minutes on 30 Jul 1945 with some 300 of the 1,195 crewmen aboard going down with the ship. With few lifeboats and many without life jackets, only 316 of the nearly 900 men set adrift survived the 4 days in shark infested water before rescue. Robert was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Robert is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/166279:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=127494f6f9da3488ce2029c3ff6cf448&_phsrc=EzO8465&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63325:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=127494f6f9da3488ce2029c3ff6cf448&_phsrc=EzO8466&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/5749:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=127494f6f9da3488ce2029c3ff6cf448&_phsrc=EzO8468&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32066271:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=f6a42f4748aacbb8a043ddbe7ff6296c&_phsrc=xzH5&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56774142/robert-louis-stueckle: accessed 02 June 2023), memorial page for S2 Robert Louis Stueckle (1928–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56774142, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194092151/robert-louis-stueckle: accessed 02 June 2023), memorial page for Robert Louis Stueckle (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194092151, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).

• Robert is included on the USS Indianapolis in World War II Wikitree Space Page https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7SP-R5K : accessed 3 June 2023), Robert Stricklen in household of Paul Stricklen, Detroit (Districts 0751-0879), Wayne, Michigan
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4P9-Z3H : 10 January 2021), Robert Stuckle in household of Ida Stueckle, Novi Township, Oakland, Michigan