William Henry Turner Jr. (1919 - 1945)

Born 1919 in North Carolina, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at about age 26 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate William Turner Jr. served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 4 Apr 1940
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate William Turner Jr. was Killed in Action during World War II.

William Turner Jr. was awarded the Purple Heart.

William was born in 1919 in North Carolina, son of William H. Turner Sr. and Jesse M. Rule. The family moved to Nevada where William graduated from Reno (Nevada) High School.

William enlisted in the navy on 4 Apr 1940. After being seriously injured, he was stationed in Florida for 3 years. After a short stay at Alameda Air Station, he was transferred to the USS Indianapolis as Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate.^[1]

William married Mary Elizabeth Revels on 12 Sep 1943 In Putnam, Florida while he was stationed there.^[2]

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. William was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[3][4]

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

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172762773/william-henry-turner: accessed 08 January 2023), memorial page for William Henry Turner Jr. (1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 172762773, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Russ Pickett (contributor 46575736).
2. ↑ Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1673095:61369?ssrc=pt&tid=83346020&pid=30478881131
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/113212:2324?ssrc=pt&tid=83346020&pid=30478881131
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 31 Aug 1940 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/22625868:1143?ssrc=pt&tid=83346020&pid=30478881131
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194109113/william-henry-turner: accessed 9 January 2023), memorial page for William Henry Turner Jr. (1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194109113, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172762773/william-henry-turner: accessed 08 January 2023), memorial page for William Henry Turner Jr. (1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 172762773, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Russ Pickett (contributor 46575736).