Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Wayne Stevens served in the United States Navy in World War II Service started: 28 Jul 1942 Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Service ended: 30 Jul 1945
Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Wayne Stevens was Killed in Action during World War II.
Wayne Stevens was awarded the Purple Heart.
Wayne was born in 1923. His parents were Herman Stevens and Ruth Conner. He married Esther Eleanor McCorkle.
Wayne enlisted in the naval reserve on 28 Jul 1942, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 22 May 1943, he served as Machinist’s Mate 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. Wayne was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.[2][3][4]
Wayne is honored at three memorials: Glen Cove Cemetery, Knightstown, Henry County, Indiana; USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.[5][6][7]
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206121653/wayne-stevens: accessed 26 June 2023), memorial page for Wayne Stevens (1923–1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 206121653, citing Glen Cove Cemetery, Knightstown, Henry County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Colleen Sanders Broyles (contributor 46875999).
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194083623/wayne-allen-stevens: accessed 26 June 2023), memorial page for Wayne Allen Stevens (16 Apr 1923–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194083623, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616). Knightstown, Henry, Indiana, USA
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56763667/wayne-allen-stevens: accessed 26 June 2023), memorial page for MM2 Wayne Allen Stevens (16 Apr 1923–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56763667, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHMY-SFW : accessed 27 June 2023), Wayne A Stevens in household of Herman Stevens, Knightstown, Henry, Indiana
"United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:V1TC-NYZ : Sun Jun 11 10:16:50 UTC 2023), Entry for Herman Stevens and Ruth Stevens, 1940
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