Ralph Sordia (1924 - 1945)

Born 1 Sep 1924 in Austin, Travis, Texas, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 20 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 2nd Class Ralph Sordia served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 19 May 1943
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 2nd Class Ralph Sordia was Killed in Action during World War II.

Ralph Sordia was awarded the Purple Heart.

Ralph was born in 1924. His parents were Santiago Sordia 1893–1921 and Matilde (Ramirez) Alcantar 1899-1984

Ralph enlisted in the naval reserve on 19 May 1943, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 27 Sep 1943, where he served as Seaman 2nd Class. ^{[1] [2] [3][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. Ralph was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[5]

Ralph is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[6][7]

Research Notes

Photo of newspaper article, from unknown newspaper source, which lists Ralph and possibly a relative listed as dead. Needs to be researched.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/84002:2324
2. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/31437:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=4a08eeaa7155e03c062aad5a578e7082&_phsrc=EzO8645&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30431098:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=b7d3c9613384cb7ae3e9ce3fd931210d&_phsrc=OHa1&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30442607:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=b7d3c9613384cb7ae3e9ce3fd931210d&_phsrc=OHa3&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/132430:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=4a08eeaa7155e03c062aad5a578e7082&_phsrc=EzO8646&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56750438/ralph-sordia: accessed 20 August 2023), memorial page for S2 Ralph Sordia (1 Sep 1924–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56750438, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194074928/ralph-sordia: accessed 23 August 2023), memorial page for Ralph Sordia (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194074928, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
8. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/120705581/person/150202119493/media/0d7c589c-2e2d-4193-9afd-f94ffc17f235?_phsrc=VaY2&_phstart=successSource

• Charles 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, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWJS-T8B : Sun Jul 30 15:34:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Joe Alcanta and Matilda Alcanta, 1940
• "Texas, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL36-2DL5 : 3 March 2020), Ralph Sardio, 1942