William Solomon Jr. (1927 - 1945)

Born 27 Sep 1927 in Michigan, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 17 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 2nd Class William Solomon Jr. served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 23 Jun 1945
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 2nd Class William Solomon Jr. was Killed in Action during World War II.

William Solomon Jr. was awarded the Purple Heart.

William was born in 1927. His father was William Solomon Sr.

William enlisted in the navy, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 23 Jun 1945, where he served as Seaman 2nd Class. ^[1][2][3]

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.^[4][5][6]

William is honored at three memorials: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia; USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[7][8][9]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1050165837:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=72dafdc8078b6cca351bfb4e6af08a42&_phsrc=TEH3&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32069467:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=72dafdc8078b6cca351bfb4e6af08a42&_phsrc=TEH24&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32072815:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=72dafdc8078b6cca351bfb4e6af08a42&_phsrc=TEH25&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10472:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=4a6f61b1143337403e36c34c0a15e41b&_phsrc=EzO8651&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63259:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=72dafdc8078b6cca351bfb4e6af08a42&_phsrc=uhk3&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ U.S., World War II Jewish Servicemen Cards, 1942-1947 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/98570:2125?tid=&pid=&queryId=72dafdc8078b6cca351bfb4e6af08a42&_phsrc=uhk4&_phstart=successSource
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194074879/william-solomon: accessed 23 August 2023), memorial page for William Solomon Jr. (27 Sep 1927–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194074879, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56774078/william-solomon: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for S2 William Solomon Jr. (27 Sep 1927–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56774078, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22309458/william-solomon: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for William Solomon Jr. (27 Sep 1927–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 22309458, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Hope (contributor 46790939).

• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHMS-F3K : Thu Jul 20 17:19:00 UTC 2023), Entry for William Solomon and Polly Solomon, 1940