Dewell Emanuel Talley (1922 - 1945)

Born 14 Oct 1922 in Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 22 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Radioman 2nd Class Dewell Talley served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1 Sep 1943
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Radioman 2nd Class Dewell Talley was Killed in Action during World War II.

Dewell Talley was awarded the Purple Heart.

Dewell was born in 1922. He was the son of Thomas Chestley Talley 1872–1953 and Virginia Idela Veal 1880–1962.

Dewell married Dot (Goodlett) Smith (1925–2011) in Cullman, Alabama on 26 Oct 1944)^[1]

Dewell enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 21 Nov 1942 . He was received on the USS Indianapolis 1 Sep 1943, serving as Radioman 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. Dewell was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[3][4][5]

Dewell is honored at three memorials: Lystra Baptist Cemetery, Cullman County, Alabama, USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[6][7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/130201:61365?ssrc=pt&tid=69377684&pid=38205468305
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30430168:1143
3. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), 1941-1975 https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000XmSuEAK
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/924:1122
5. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/103206:2324
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113443022/dewell-e-talley: accessed 14 May 2023), memorial page for Dewell E. Talley (14 Oct 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 113443022, citing Lystra Baptist Cemetery, Cullman County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by Ed & Sue Anderson (contributor 46739770).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194095692/dewell-emanuel-talley: accessed 16 May 2023), memorial page for Dewell Emanuel Talley (14 Oct 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194095692, 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/56777840/dewell-emanuel-talley: accessed 16 May 2023), memorial page for RM2 Dewell Emanuel Talley (14 Oct 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56777840, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Debbie McPherson (contributor 48520572).

• U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/11654908:2238
• Dewell is included on the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) in World War II Wikitree Space Page https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II