David Sander Teerlink (1921 - 1945)

Born 21 Jan 1921 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Barbara Joyce (Marriott) Brown — married 1942 (to 30 Jul 1945) in Elko, Nevada, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 24 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Chief Warrant Officer David Teerlink served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 19 Sep 1941
Unit(s): USS Boreas (AF-8), USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Chief Warrant Officer David Teerlink was Killed in Action during World War II.

David Teerlink was awarded the Purple Heart.

David was born in 1921, in Utah. His parents were Cornelius George Teerlink 1886–1973 and Harmana Sander Teerlink 1894–1973.

David married Barbara Joyce Marriott Brown 1922–1995 (m. 1942). They are the parents of David Teerlink Brown 1945–1974.

David enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 19 Sep 1941. He was stationed on the USS Argonne, serving as Storekeeper 3rd Class. He was transferred on 6 Nov 1941 to the USS Boreas (AF-8), where he continued to rise in the ranks. On 17 Feb 1944 David accepted appointment to Aviation Pilot Chief Petty Officer and was transferred on 11 Mar 1944 to the USS Indianapolis serving as Chief Warrant Officer. ^[1][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. David was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[3][4][5][6]

David is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/20141217:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=54bd48c25eeb1a2763157392b662a062&_phsrc=JUm3&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/21758196:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=54bd48c25eeb1a2763157392b662a062&_phsrc=Jro7&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ Utah, U.S., Military Records https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/147142:2228?tid=&pid=&queryId=a7be60d11d181f177ed0d0630c4783ef&_phsrc=EzO8407&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/89074:2324
5. ↑ U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/143216:4283
6. ↑ U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/317234:1102
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194099084/david-sander-teerlink: accessed 03 May 2023), memorial page for David Sander Teerlink (21 Jan 1921–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194099084, 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/56785874/david-sander-teerlink: accessed 03 May 2023), memorial page for CPC David Sander Teerlink (21 Jan 1921–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56785874, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Eric Ackerman (contributor 48445240)

• .David 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
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH6J-H89 : accessed 4 May 2023), David S Teerlink in household of Cornelius G Teerlink, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:VT4V-X3N : Wed Apr 05 05:50:20 UTC 2023), Entry for David Teerlink and Heber Teerlink, 1940.
• "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Census Records (Worldwide), 1914-1960", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:83D8-CGZM : 2 February 2023), David Sander Teerlink in entry for Cornelius George Teerlink, 1935.