William Stanley Stripe (1926 - 1945)

Born 16 Jun 1926 in Los Angeles, California, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 19 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 2nd Class William Stripe served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 13 Oct 1943
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 2nd Class William Stripe was Killed in Action during World War II.

William Stripe was awarded the Purple Heart.

William was born in 1926. He is the son of George Simpson Stripe 1892–1977 and Hazel Grace Thomson 1899–1991.^[1]

William enlisted in the naval reserve on 13 Oct 1943, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 21 Dec 1943, serving as Seaman 2nd class.^[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. William was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[3][4][5]

William is one of the few servicemen who came home for burial, he is laid to rest at Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California. William is also honored with his shipmates, at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[6][7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGL4-C5FM : 1 March 2021), Wm Stanley Stripe, 16 Jun 1926; citing Birth, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, California State Archives, Sacramento.
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32069550:1143?tid=103514539&pid=192176207201&queryId=e8b4c8c723778eca2b5cebc4e57c35bd&_phsrc=WbT3&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/112951:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=50155e03303b1c6354a84c0e7bb548bd&_phsrc=EzO8489&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10649:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=50155e03303b1c6354a84c0e7bb548bd&_phsrc=EzO8490&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/140679:4283?tid=&pid=&queryId=50155e03303b1c6354a84c0e7bb548bd&_phsrc=EzO8491&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206360054/william-stanley-stripe: accessed 06 June 2023), memorial page for William Stanley Stripe (16 Jun 1926–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 206360054, citing Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Maintained by Noel Blanchard (contributor 49139950).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194088410/william-stanley-stripe: accessed 06 June 2023), memorial page for William Stanley Stripe (16 Jun 1926–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194088410, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56757962/william-stanley-stripe: accessed 06 June 2023), memorial page for S2 William Stanley Stripe (16 Jun 1926–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56757962, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Linda Carole Mustion (contributor 29047507).

• 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
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC83-HGH : accessed 8 June 2023), William S Stripe in household of George S Stripe, Los Angeles (Districts 0501-0750), Los Angeles, California
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:K97V-TQY : Wed Apr 05 06:42:24 UTC 2023), Entry for George S Stripe and Hazel G Stripe, 1940