William Robert Wallace (1918 - 1944)

Born 9 Dec 1918 in Davenport, Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Died 25 Oct 1944 at age 25 in Buried or Lost at Sea

Biography

William Wallace is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Navy 1940-1944 Lost at Sea as a Mate First Class
Served and Lost at Sea in World War II

William Wallace was awarded the Purple Heart.

William Wallace was born in Iowa.

William Robert Wallace was born 9 Dec 1918 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa, the son of Harold Wallace and Millicent Dresthe. ^[1]

In 1920, William (1) was living at 26 E Meadow St., Prairie, Washington, Arkansas, with his parents. His father Harold (28) was renting this house. He was working as a shoemaker in his own shop. His mother Emilie (24) took care of the home and family. The census worker noted that she immigrated to the United States in 1914 and was naturalized in 1917. ^[2]

When the census report was taken in 1930, William (11) was attending school and living at 2818 Shelby Street in Dallas, Texas with his parents. His father, Harold (38) owned their home, and it was valued at $5000. That's $79,955 in today's dollars. The census worker recorded Harold's occupation as the owner of a Shoe Repair Shop. Their household did not own a radio. The census worker recorded William's mother, Amelia's (34) occupation as the general manager of a shoe shop. ^[3]

In 1940, William (21) was living at 3937 Creek Road, University Park, Texas with his parents. The census worker noted that they were living at this same address in 1935. He was in his first year of college. His father, Harold (48) owned this home and it was valued at $7,000 ($133,000 in today’s dollars). Harold had a high school education and was the proprietor of a shoe repair shop. In the last week of March in 1940, he worked 48 hours. William's mother, Millicent took care of the home and family. She had a college education. ^[4]

William Robert Wallace's permanent address was 3937 Amherst Street in Dallas, Texas, when he signed the draft registration card on 16 Oct 1940. He listed his father at that same address as the person who would always know where he lived. William was a student at the Illinois College of Chiropody and Foot Surgery, located at 1327 N Clark, Chicago, Illinois. William was described as being 5'10", 169 pounds, with blue eyes, red hair, a ruddy complexion, and a tracheotomy scar. ^[5]

William's son Henry Robert was born 22 Aug 1941 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. His mother was Julia Bass. ^[6]

William's son Henry Robert (two-months-old) died 22 Oct 1941 in Chicago, Illinois. He was buried in Whitesboro, Grayson, Texas on 25 Oct 1941. His mother was Kelia Bess Baso. ^[7]

William's daughter Judith was born 01 Dec 1942 in Dallas, Texas. Her mother was Julia Bess Boss. ^[8]

USS Hoel.

William was aboard the USS Hoel, a Fletcher Class Destroyer ^[9], which was sunk during the Battle of Samar in the Philippine Sea on 25 October 1944. Only 86 of the 339 men aboard survived. William's body was not recovered and his name is on the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines.

In October, 1944, William Robert Wallace, Pharmacist's Mate First Class was a resident of Texas while serving in the United States Naval Reserve when he was listed as missing in action. His wife was Julia Bess Wallace.^[10]

William R Wallace awarded Purple Heart

William Robert Wallace died 25 Oct 1944 in Buried or Lost at Sea. Specifically: Killed during the Battle of Leyte^[11][12]

Children

1. Henry Robert Wallace: 22 Aug 1941-22 Oct 1941, FAG 110997816; ^{[6] [7]}
2. Judith Wallace: 01 Dec 1942-; ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ "Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4DG-2RL : 1 April 2020), William Robert Wallace, 9 Dec 1918; citing Davenport, Scott, Iowa, United States; county district courts, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,480,950.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDFP-17J : 31 January 2021), William R Wallace in entry for Harold R Wallace, 1920.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:C4ZN-Z3Z : accessed 10 April 2022), William R Wallace in household of Harold R Wallace, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 66, sheet 27A, line 6, family 419, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2317; FHL microfilm 2,342,051.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWJP-8FD : 10 January 2021), William Wallace in household of Harold R Wallace, Justice Precinct 1, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 57-8C, sheet 62A, line 5, family 119, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4015.
5. ↑ See photo of the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 for William Robert Wallace, attached.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6Z8K-WKLK : 30 March 2021), Henry Robert Wallace, 1941.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3HG-G4H : 10 March 2018), Henry Robert Wallace, 22 Oct 1941; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,953,735.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VD94-NRK : 1 January 2015), William Robert Wallace in entry for Judith Lynn Wallace, 01 Dec 1942; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
9. ↑ https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/USS_Hoel_(DD-533)
10. ↑ "U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941" Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2324 #84314 (accessed 10 April 2022) Name: William Robert Wallace; Residence Place: Texas, USA; Branch of Service: US Navy; Spouse: Julia Bess Wallace; Volume Title: Combat Naval Casualties, World War II, (MT-WY).
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #56750691
12. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKT-8RYB : 10 September 2021), William Robert Wallace, 1944; Burial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial; citing record ID 56750691, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56750691/ William Robert Wallace.