Bernard Edward Tisthammer (1917 - 1945)

Born 29 Jan 1917 in Boone, Nebraska, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 28 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Chief Gunner’s Mate Bernard Tisthammer served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 30 Jul 1940
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Chief Gunner’s Mate Bernard Tisthammer was Killed in Action during World War II.

Bernard Tisthammer was awarded the Purple Heart.

Bernard was born in 1917 in Nebraska. His parents were Martin Peter Tisthammer and Eva Vandenrenter. In the 1940 census, Bernard was living in Tulare, California at a migrant camp, picking citrus fruit^[1]

Ed entered the Navy on 30 Jul 1940 and was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 22 Oct 1940, where he served as a Chief Gunner’s Mate. 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. Ed was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4]

Ed is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1846332:60722?tid=&pid=&queryId=3726df54636f1b065e543fe92dbe72dc&_phsrc=tRM1&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), 1941-1975 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/35602:62207
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10833:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=3726df54636f1b065e543fe92dbe72dc&_phsrc=tRM2&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/22957650:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=86e75d2c153365b1a499807521d812cc&_phsrc=tAf2&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56758101/bernard-edward-tisthammer: accessed 03 March 2023), memorial page for GMC Bernard Edward Tisthammer (29 Jan 1917–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56758101, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194106299/bernard-edward-tisthammer: accessed 03 March 2023), memorial page for Bernard Edward Tisthammer (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194106299, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQVR-4R7 : accessed 4 March 2023), Bernard Tisthammer in household of Martin B Tisthammer, Midland, Boone, Nebraska
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K96J-S4V : 6 January 2021), Bernard E Tisthasmen, Lindsay Judicial Township, Tulare, California