David Earl Stanforth (1920 - 1945)

Born 1 May 1920 in Berwick, Warren, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 25 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Fireman 2nd Class David Stanforth served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started:
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Fireman 2nd Class David Stanforth was Killed in Action during World War II.

David Stanforth was awarded the Purple Heart.

David was born in 1920. He was the son of David Emmet Stanforth and Ethel May Ray. He married Georgia Cramer Stanforth in 1940.

David enlisted in the naval reserve, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 12 May 1945, he served as Fireman 2nd 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. David was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3]

David is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines. ^[4][5]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32069502:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=0f3000cd9d4ec45c3a71e6a5405582fe&_phsrc=IkT12&_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=a0Jt0000000Xmg3EAC
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/134913:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=c7b5b4f7fd35d1473a146334ee7524cc&_phsrc=IkT4&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194080954/david-earl-stanforth: accessed 30 June 2023), memorial page for David Earl Stanforth (1920–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194080954, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56771652/david-earl-stanforth: accessed 30 June 2023), memorial page for F2 David Earl Stanforth (1920–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56771652, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).

• Wayne 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:XSB7-DQD : accessed 1 July 2023), David E Stanforth in household of David E Stanforth, Abingdon, Knox, Illinois
• "Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W1CW-QTPZ : 17 May 2022), David E Stanforth, 23 Mar 1940; citing Marriage, Lewis, Missouri
• 1930 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/26820554:6224?tid=&pid=&queryId=c7b5b4f7fd35d1473a146334ee7524cc&_phsrc=IkT2&_phstart=successSource