Joseph Anthony Stromko Jr. (1920 - 1945)

Born 28 May 1920 in Superior, Douglas, Wisconsin, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 25 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Fireman 2nd Class Joseph Stromko Jr. served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 4 Feb 1945
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Fireman 2nd Class Joseph Stromko Jr. was Killed in Action during World War II.

Joseph Stromko Jr. was awarded the Purple Heart.

Joseph was born in 1920.

Joseph entered the service Feb. 4, 1945, and trained at great lakes naval training station. He was received aboard the USS Indianapolis for duty as Fireman 2nd Class on 12 May 1945. Virgil served in the Navy for 6 months before he was killed in action.

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. Joseph was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[1][2]

Joseph is honored at three memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines and St. Francis Cemetery in Superior, WIsconsin.^[3][4][5]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), 1941-1975 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/18202:62207
2. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1050099025:2324
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/me orial/56785770/joseph-anthony-stromko: accessed 03 June 2023), memorial page Mbmm M for F2 Joseph Anthony Stromko Jr. (28 May 1920–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56785770, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194092029/joseph-anthony-stromko: accessed 03 June 2023), memorial page for Joseph Anthony Stromko (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194092029, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81401355/joseph-anthony-stromko: accessed 03 June 2023), memorial page for Joseph Anthony Stromko Jr. (28 May 1920–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 81401355; Buried or Lost at Sea; Maintained by David Johnson (contributor 47323276).

• Joseph is included on the USS Indianapolis in World War II Wikitree Space Page Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II
• 1930 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/59612528:6224?tid=&pid=&queryId=186c28655cde4a92ff2eda9fac068cd0&_phsrc=QZo2&_phstart=successSource