Robert Wayne Terry (1927 - 1945)

Born 17 Dec 1927 in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 17 in Philippine Sea

Problems/Questions Profile manager: v. Wilson [send private message]

Biography

Seaman 1st Class Bob Terry served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1945
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 1st Class Bob Terry was Killed in Action during World War II.

Bob Terry was awarded the Purple Heart.

Robert was born in 1927 in Ohio. His parents were William John Terry (1894–1940) and Bernice Armenell Jester Wills (1901–1999). In the 1930 census the family was living in Marietta, Washington, Ohio. By the 1940 census, they were living in Hartford City, Indiana, where Robert attended his high school freshman year in 1942.^[1]

Robert enlisted in 1945 and was stationed as Seaman 1st Class on the USS Indianapolis. 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. Robert was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. ^[2][3][4][5]

Unlike most victims, Robert and his friend and shipmate Richard Thelen were together in the water when Robert lost his life. Richard lived through the harrowing experience and told the story for the AARP Magizine, read it here.

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

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/182395621:1265?ssrc=pt&tid=106864200&pid=342432391602
2. ↑ U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/143512:4283
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/142090:2324
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32855:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=4ce66900fad38a983a2525ddba16ae37&_phsrc=EzO8396&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/39504:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=4ce66900fad38a983a2525ddba16ae37&_phsrc=EzO8397&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56763825/robert-wayne-terry: accessed 12 March 2023), memorial page for S2 Robert Wayne Terry (1928–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56763825, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by D. A. Lawson (contributor 18493958).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194099373/robert-wayne-terry: accessed 12 March 2023), memorial page for Robert Wayne Terry (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194099373, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).

• 1930 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/68697986:6224?tid=&pid=&queryId=4ce66900fad38a983a2525ddba16ae37&_phsrc=EzO8395&_phstart=successSource
• "United States Census, 1940", https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1R7-R42 database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:V1R7-R4V : Fri Mar 10 06:49:46 UTC 2023), Entry for Bernice A Terry and Malcolm E Terry, 1940.
• U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/201139554:2238?tid=106864200&pid=342432391602&queryId=de5ee969ea40029a62cd9835db875863&_phsrc=Bzo1&_phstart=successSource

• USS Indianapolis (CA-35) in World War II https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II