James Douglas Spencer (1919 - 1945)

Born 30 Aug 1919 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 25 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

This profile is part of the Spencer Name Study.

Lieutenant James Spencer served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1 Jul 1944
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Lieutenant James Spencer was Killed in Action during World War II.

James enlisted in the navy on 1 Jul 1944, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis, where he served as Lieutenant.^[1][2]

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. James was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[3][4][5][6]

James 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., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/101046:2345?tid=&pid=&queryId=86c938f14b01bb3c4799adb8762c08da&_phsrc=QaJ2&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/6262015:61817
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/150653:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=344e64090db9120db5569d069a03517b&_phsrc=EzO8628&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/27621:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=344e64090db9120db5569d069a03517b&_phsrc=EzO8627&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/102210:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=344e64090db9120db5569d069a03517b&_phsrc=EzO8626&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ U.S., Select Military Registers https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/101046:2345?tid=&pid=&queryId=344e64090db9120db5569d069a03517b&_phsrc=EzO8625&_phstart=successSource
7. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110927193/james-douglas-spencer
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56777729/james-douglas-spencer: accessed 13 August 2023), memorial page for LT James Douglas Spencer (30 Aug 1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56777729, 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/194079711/james-douglas-spencer: accessed 13 August 2023), memorial page for LT James Douglas Spencer (30 Aug 1919–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194079711, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616)

• 1930 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/6930954:6224
• James 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