William Clifton Sitzlar (1919 - 1945)

Born 19 Jun 1919 in Monroe, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 26 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Fireman 1st Class William Sitzlar served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1944
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Fireman 1st Class William Sitzlar was Killed in Action during World War II.

William Sitzlar was awarded the Purple Heart.

William was born in 1919. His parents were James William Grady Sitzlar 1891–1973 and Ada Myrtle (Norris) Sitzlar 1901–1997. He married Sarah Magner (McKeehan) Sitzlar Decker 1920–2009 in 1937.

William enlisted in the naval reserve in 1944, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 30 Dec 1944, where he served as Fireman 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. William was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3]

William is honored at three memorials: Sitzlar Family Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Monroe County, Tennessee; USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[4][5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30452719:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=b16e42799dcb1cfc0ee5c3f1df2a7c38&_phsrc=xRA11&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), 1941-1975 https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000XmmBEAS
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/128036:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=b16e42799dcb1cfc0ee5c3f1df2a7c38&_phsrc=xRA3&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56785513/william-clifton-sitzlar: accessed 25 September 2023), memorial page for F1 William Clifton Sitzlar (19 Jun 1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56785513, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194051719/william-clifton-sitzlar: accessed 25 September 2023), memorial page for William Clifton Sitzlar (19 Jun 1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194051719, 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/53412829/william-clifton-sitzlar: accessed 25 September 2023), memorial page for William Clifton Sitzlar (19 Jun 1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 53412829, citing Sitzlar Family Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Monroe County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Billy Thomas (contributor 47131157).

• William 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