Phillip Gomes Silva (1922 - 1945)

Born 26 May 1922 in Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California, United States

Husband of Carra Adda (Roberts) Drenner — married 4 Nov 1944 (to 30 Jul 1945) in Kitsap, Washington, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 23 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 1st Class Phillip Silva served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 8 Jul 1942
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 1st Class Phillip Silva was Killed in Action during World War II.

Phillip Silva was awarded the Purple Heart.

Phillip was born in 1922. He married Carra Adda Mattox Silva in 1944.

Philip enlisted in the naval reserve on 8 Jul 1942, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 28 Oct 1942, where he served as Seaman 1st Class.^[1]

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. Phillip was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. ^[2][3]

Phillip is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[4][5]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30418173:1143?_phsrc=NBU2&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Phillip&gsln=Silva&ml_rpos=1&queryId=a971ed5b8ffd5e29d9a8d8bfdaf48f12
2. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/93827:2324
3. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/31290:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=01d9f7d4611f8a5c135d6afc0f012eb1&_phsrc=EzO7828&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56757753/phillip-gomes-silva: accessed 12 October 2023), memorial page for S1 Phillip Gomes Silva (26 May 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56757753, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194043931/phillip-gomes-silva: accessed 12 October 2023), memorial page for Phillip Gomes Silva (26 May 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194043931, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA

• "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCNB-CD8 : Wed Oct 04 23:36:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Manuel G Silva and Mary Silva, 1930
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K969-HCN : Tue Oct 03 13:52:40 UTC 2023), Entry for Manuel Silva and Mary Silva, 1940
• "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF4-965X : 2 March 2020), Phillip Gomes Silva, Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California
• "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPML-1Z6D : 17 April 2021), Phillip Gomes Silva and Carra Adda Mattox, 1944
• Phillip 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