Virgil Lee Stryffeler (1925 - abt. 1945)

Born 6 Jun 1925 in Paris, Stark, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Died about 30 Jul 1945 at about age 20 in Philippine Sea

Biography

Fireman 2nd Class Virgil Stryffeler 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 Virgil Stryffeler was Killed in Action during World War II.

Virgil Stryffeler was awarded the Purple Heart.

Virgil was born in 1925. He is the son of Howard Stryffeler and Olive Benner. ^[1]

Virgil 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.^[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. Virgil was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[3][4][5]

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

Sources

1. ↑ Ohio, U.S., Birth Index, 1908-1998 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1328044:3146?ssrc=pt&tid=6359806&pid=25557554277
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32066270:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=5883c284f0c310920a3e2622e738be18&_phsrc=Mur1&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/200192858:2238?tid=&pid=&queryId=8f98d12f4fb36e0e7b10880d5de2e4c1&_phsrc=EzO8472&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/55665:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=8f98d12f4fb36e0e7b10880d5de2e4c1&_phsrc=EzO8473&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8560:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=8f98d12f4fb36e0e7b10880d5de2e4c1&_phsrc=EzO8475&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56766265/virgil-lee-stryffeler: accessed 03 June 2023), memorial page for F2 Virgil Lee Stryffeler (6 Jun 1925–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56766265, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Terry Stoffer (contributor 46557567).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194092076/virgil-lee-stryffeler: accessed 03 June 2023), memorial page for Virgil Lee Stryffeler (1926–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194092076, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4CR-XGC : accessed 3 June 2023), Virgil Stryfler in household of Howard Stryfler, Washington, Stark, Ohio
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW66-L26 : 9 January 2021), Virgil Stryffeler in household of Howard Stryffeler, Butler Township, Columbiana, Ohio
• Virgil 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
• Stryffeler Family Bible as recorded by Bernie Stryffeler. Bernie has documented several of the Stryffelers but also had first hand knowledge from Jacob Stryffeler's generation all the way to hers.
• Alliance Review 1945 - Article listing Virgil as dead.
• Dorris Wagner firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Sam and others.