Radarman 3rd Class Bill Tosh served in the United States Navy in World War II Service started: 18 Jan 1943 Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Service ended: 30 Jul 1945
Radarman 3rd Class Bill Tosh was Killed in Action during World War II.
Bill Tosh was awarded the Purple Heart.
Bill was born in Alabama in 1922, his parents were William M. “Bill” Tosh 1885- and Essie May (Travis) Tosh 1890–1938.
Bill married Donna Louise Maples Tupin 1925–1955 in Sep 1941 in Yuma, Arizona.[1]
Bill enlisted in the Navy on 18 Jan 1943 and was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 12 May 1943, where he served as Radarman 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. Bill was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.[2][3][4]
Bill is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.[5][6]
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56758115/william-hugh-tosh: accessed 27 February 2023), memorial page for RD3 William Hugh “Bill” Tosh (17 Nov 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56758115, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194107207/bill-hugh-tosh: accessed 27 February 2023), memorial page for Bill Hugh Tosh (17 Nov 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194107207, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
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