William George Stier (1926 - 1945)

Born 30 Sep 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 18 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 1st Class William Stier served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1945
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 1st Class William Stier was Killed in Action during World War II.

William Stier was awarded the Purple Heart.

William was born in 1926. His parents were William Stier and Eleanor Brooks 1903–1931.

William enlisted in the naval reserve and was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 14 May 1945 as Seaman 1st 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. William was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4]

William is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32069530:1143?tid=176419920&pid=162389107679&queryId=8e907e21effbec3ce22ebad098e87a94&_phsrc=qFA3&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/308393:1102
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/117145:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=99e7a6885e4a2a123d2a3b2946e85906&_phsrc=EzO8554&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8979:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=99e7a6885e4a2a123d2a3b2946e85906&_phsrc=EzO8556&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56769081/william-george-stier: accessed 24 June 2023), memorial page for S1 William George Stier (30 Sep 1926–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56769081, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56769081/william-george-stier: accessed 24 June 2023), memorial page for S1 William George Stier (30 Sep 1926–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56769081, 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:XH49-QX5 : accessed 25 June 2023), William Stier Jr. in household of William Stier, Philadelphia (Districts 0001-0250), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 1940 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/25747869:2442?tid=&pid=&queryId=99e7a6885e4a2a123d2a3b2946e85906&_phsrc=EzO8553&_phstart=successSource
• William 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