Everett Nathan Thorpe (1925 - 1945)

Born 7 Jun 1925 in Claiborne, Tennessee, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 20 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Water Tender 3rd Class Everett Thorpe served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 20 October 1943
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Water Tender 3rd Class Everett Thorpe was Killed in Action during World War II.

Everett Thorpe was awarded the Purple Heart.

Everett was born in 1925 in Tennessee. His parents were George Curry Thorpe 1898–1979 and Grace Victoria Jones Thorpe 1902–1992. He had 7 siblings:

Ruth Irene Thorpe Jones 1920–1995

Junior Leo Thorpe 1921–1944

Lewis Edward Thorpe 1923–2019

Everett Nathan Thorpe 1925–1945

Margaret Inez Thorpe Riley 1927–1982

Carl Odra Thorpe 1930–2013

Virgle Eugene Thorpe 1932–2006

Roger Ferris Thorpe 1935–1935

Everett enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 20 October 1943, and was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 27 Apr 1944, where he served as Water Tender 3rd Class. ^[1]

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. Everett was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4]

Everett is honored at three memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines and Cave Springs Cemetery, Tazewell, Claiborne County, Tennessee.^[5][6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ the U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30443405:1143?tid=14591738&pid=28456101248&queryId=454a64985992dd836a33fcebfa7e896b&_phsrc=nDp5&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/47947:1122?tid=14591738&pid=28456101248&queryId=454a64985992dd836a33fcebfa7e896b&_phsrc=nDp3&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), 1941-1975 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/9870:62207?tid=14591738&pid=28456101248&queryId=e038f3f0eaf0d6a9b6513a69812977f1&_phsrc=nDp1&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/150554:2324?ssrc=pt&tid=14591738&pid=28456101248
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194104981/everett-nathan-thorpe: accessed 08 March 2023), memorial page for Everett Nathan Thorpe (7 Jun 1925–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194104981, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56763888/everett-nathan-thorpe: accessed 08 March 2023), memorial page for WT3 Everett Nathan Thorpe (7 Jun 1925–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56763888, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Charging Forward KY (contributor 49801517).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178371148/everett-nathan-thorpe: accessed 08 March 2023), memorial page for Everett Nathan Thorpe (7 Jun 1925–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 178371148, citing Cave Springs Cemetery, Tazewell, Claiborne County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by: Find a Grave.

• 1930 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/68296550:6224?ssrc=pt&tid=14591738&pid=28456101248
• 1940 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/50055803:2442?ssrc=pt&tid=14591738&pid=28456101248
• U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/37773723:2238?ssrc=pt&tid=14591738&pid=28456101248
• USS Indianapolis (CA-35) in World War II https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II