Donald Arthur Strom (1922 - 1945)

Born 17 Sep 1922 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 22 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 2nd Class Donald Strom served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 24 Nov 1942
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 2nd Class Donald Strom was Killed in Action during World War II.

Donald Strom was awarded the Purple Heart.

Donald was born in 1922 in Oregon. He was the son of Arthur Waldemar Strom 1893–1984 and Clara Ingeborg Anderson 1892–1985. He married Betty Jean Steele.

Donald enlisted in the navy on 24 Nov 1942, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 29 Apr 1943 as Seaman 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. Donald was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4]

Donald is honored at three memorials: Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon; USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[5][6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30428543:1143?tid=118521916&pid=340176632363&queryId=f6a9c5986455256d24d9fc3ec6432e6c&_phsrc=uGj3&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63783:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=8532db4169bb7eadd8b718311c5f14ce&_phsrc=EzO8485&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/36354:62207
4. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63783:2324
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194088466/donald-arthur-strom: accessed 05 June 2023), memorial page for Donald Arthur Strom (17 Sep 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194088466, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56791323/donald-arthur-strom: accessed 05 June 2023), memorial page for S2 Donald Arthur Strom (17 Sep 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56791323, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36372091/donald-arthur-strom: accessed 05 June 2023), memorial page for Donald Arthur Strom (17 Sep 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 36372091, citing Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA; Maintained by GCO (contributor 46982641).

• Donald 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:XCS7-DDT : accessed 6 June 2023), Donald A Strom in household of Arthur W Strom, Portland (Districts 271-553), Multnomah, Oregon
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:VRTT-XSK : Sat Jun 03 21:33:30 UTC 2023), Entry for Arthur W Strom and Clara Strom, 1940
• "Oregon, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGXN-9YG2 : 3 March 2020), Donald Arthur Strom, 1942