Harold Orton Todd (1916 - 1945)

Born 29 Mar 1916 in Ada, Pontotoc, Oklahoma, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 29 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Carpenter’s Mate 3rd Class Harold Todd served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 27 Jul 1943
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Carpenter’s Mate 3rd Class Harold Todd was Killed in Action during World War II.

Harold Todd was awarded the Purple Heart.

Harold was born in 1916 in Oklahoma. His parents were Benjamin Harrison Todd 1888–1959 and Myrtle Nancy Miller Todd 1890–1979.

Harold married Ella Mae Eddings Todd (1916–2014) on 28 Mar 1941 in Pittsburg, Oklahoma. They had one daughter Nancy C. Dighton 1942–1967.^[1]

Harold enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 27 Jul 1943 and was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 15 Apr 1944, where he served as Carpenter’s Mate 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. Harold was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4]

Harold is honored at three memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, the Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines, and Rosedale Cemetery, Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma^[5][6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ Oklahoma, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1890-1995 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/64364271:61379?tid=&pid=&queryId=b25a21f0d3cbbca6bd2663352aead1e5&_phsrc=bgl1&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/61498:2324
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/109982:1122
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30443127:1143
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131500523/harold-orton-todd: accessed 28 February 2023), memorial page for Harold Orton Todd (29 Mar 1916–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 131500523, citing Rosedale Cemetery, Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, USA; Maintained by Linda Abelli (contributor 48304482).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194106603/harold-orton-todd: accessed 28 February 2023), memorial page for Harold Orton Todd (29 Mar 1916–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194106603, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56791510/harold-orton-todd: accessed 28 February 2023), memorial page for CM3 Harold Orton Todd (29 Mar 1916–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56791510, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Tommy Neathery (contributor 47874331).

• U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/13911274:2238?tid=&pid=&queryId=b25a21f0d3cbbca6bd2663352aead1e5&_phsrc=HIg1&_phstart=successSource
• 1920 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/99086959:6061?tid=&pid=&queryId=b25a21f0d3cbbca6bd2663352aead1e5&_phsrc=bgl2&_phstart=successSource
• 1930 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/94914513:6224
• 1940 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/91717664:2442