Howard Smalley (1920 - 1945)

Born 16 Nov 1920 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 24 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 1st Class Howard Smalley served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 6 Jul 1942
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 1st Class Howard Smalley was Killed in Action during World War II.

Howard Smalley was awarded the Purple Heart.

Howard was born in 1920. His parents were William H. Smalley and Eula Minnie (Ralph) Smalley. ^[1]

Howard married Paula Marie Hicks (Smalley) on 10 Jul 1945 in Solano, California, just 20 days before his death. They had a son James Melvin Hicks.^[2][3]

Howard enlisted in the naval reserve on 6 Jul 1942, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 28 Oct 1942, where he served as Seaman 1st Class.^[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. Howard was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[5][6]

Howard is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N73J-DRK : 5 October 2022), Howard Earl Smalley
2. ↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86P-1S3 : 17 August 2022), Howard Earl Smalley and Paula Marie Hicks, 1945
3. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG13-695B : 19 February 2021), Howard Earl Smalley in entry for James Melvin Hicks and Wanda Josephine Whitt, 26 Jul 1965; citing Montgomery, Alabama
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30418202:1143?_phsrc=FgW2&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Howard&gsln=Smalley&ml_rpos=1&queryId=45b993e4e466f49eb979a1312b4bdd5b
5. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=2324&h=112675&indiv=try
6. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10358:1122
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56757782/howard-earl-smalley: accessed 24 September 2023), memorial page for S1 Howard Earl Smalley (16 Nov 1920–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56757782, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194053797/howard-earl-smalley: accessed 24 September 2023), memorial page for Howard Earl Smalley (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194053797, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).

• Howard 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:XCVW-545 : Wed Sep 20 23:07:36 UTC 2023), Entry for Eulah Smalley and June Smalley, 1930