Kenneth Irwin Stout (1912 - 1945)

Born 26 Oct 1912 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 32 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Lieutenant Commander Ken Stout served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 26 Oct 1935
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Lieutenant Commander Ken Stout was Killed in Action during World War II.

Ken Stout was awarded the Purple Heart.

Kenneth was born in 1912. His parents were Desmoine Sherman Stout 1876–1932 and Marguerite Elder Stout 1882–1968. He married Lorraine Mildred Vaughn Johnson 1916–1979.^[1]

Ken enlisted in the navy on 26 Oct 1935 and was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 2 Nov 1938 as Radioman 1st Class, ultimately receiving rank of Lieutenant Commander.^[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. Kenneth was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[3][4][5]

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

Sources

1. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPC4-36KQ : 1 March 2021), Kenneth Owen Stout, 26 Oct 1912; citing Birth, Los Angeles, California
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/23152460:1143?ssrc=pt&tid=165252398&pid=322150466872
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/112964:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=2680219ae3755d15f86491dc0840f961&_phsrc=EzO8520&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/140265:4283
5. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/28807:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=2680219ae3755d15f86491dc0840f961&_phsrc=EzO8520&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194085205/kenneth-irwin-stout: accessed 17 June 2023), memorial page for LCDR Kenneth Irwin “Ken” Stout (26 Oct 1912–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194085205, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56757953/kenneth-irwin-stout: accessed 17 June 2023), memorial page for LCDR Kenneth Irwin “Ken” Stout (26 Oct 1912–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56757953, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Barbara LeClaire (contributor 46903377).

• Kenneth 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, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH7T-BWB : 31 January 2021), Kenneth St*t in entry for Desmond St*t, 1920
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:K733-68T : Sat Jun 10 02:39:57 UTC 2023), Entry for Kenneth E Stout and Lorraine M Stout, 1940