Arno John Telford (1924 - 1945)

Born 30 Apr 1924 in Lyon, Minnesota, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 21 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Radio Technician 3rd Class Arno Telford served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1944
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Radio Technician 3rd Class Arno Telford was Killed in Action during World War II.

Arno Telford was awarded the Purple Heart.

Arno was born in 1924 in Minnesota, his parents were Oscar Telford and Frieda Zimmerman. Arno registered for the draft, giving this info:^[1][2]

Name: Arno John Telford

Age: 18

Birth Place: Marshall, Minnesota, USA

Birth Date: 30 Apr 1924

Residence Place: Marshall, Lyon, Minnesota

Registration Date: 30 Jun 1942

Employer: Daily Messenger

Weight: 175

Complexion: Dark

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Brown

Height: 6 1

Arno enlisted in the navy and was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 30 Nov 1944. He served as Radio Technician 3rd Class. 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. Arno was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

Arno is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^{[8] [9]}

Sources

1. ↑ Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1743459:9196?tid=&pid=&queryId=e3c50f9ca2c61d233e4ad11ff71f43d8&_phsrc=EzO8400&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ "Minnesota, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLF9-DKXY : 3 March 2020), Arno John Telford, 1942.
3. ↑ "Minnesota, Obituaries 1865-2006," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W2-C4KN : accessed 2 May 2023), Arno Telford, 1945; citing Minnesota, United States, newspaper Southwest Minnesota Historical Center, Marshall. ; FHL microfilm 7,618,873.
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/21166:62207
5. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/171344:2324
6. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/68739:1122
7. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32061723:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=2260f5c7add6af10182af8e1b63a6dd7&_phsrc=HQc2&_phstart=successSource
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56780533/arno-john-telford: accessed 01 May 2023), memorial page for RT3 Arno John Telford (30 Apr 1924–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56780533, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194099340/arno-john-telford: accessed 01 May 2023), memorial page for Arno John Telford (30 Apr 1924–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194099340, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X38H-8TT : accessed 2 May 2023), Arno Telford in household of Oscar Telford, Lake Marshall, Lyon, Minnesota
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSLJ-G5R : 25 November 2019), Arno Telford in household of Cesar Telford, Ward 2, Marshall, Marshall City, Lyon, Minnesota
• USS Indianapolis (CA-35) in World War II https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II