Robert Edward Truitt (1926 - 1945)

Born 1926 in Florida, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at about age 19 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Radioman 2nd Class Robert Truitt served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 12 Dec 1942
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Radioman 2nd Class Robert Truitt was Killed in Action during World War II.

Robert Truitt was awarded the Purple Heart.

Robert was born in Florida in 1926. He was the son of Joseph Truitt and Joyce Elizabeth Seley.

Robert enlisted in the navy on 12 Dec 1942, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 1 Sep 1943 and served as Radioman 2nd 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. Robert was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[1][2][3][4]

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

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/127257:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=8e535fe003d7cb091d7ea3705278c3b3&_phsrc=EzO9365&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/24861:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=8e535fe003d7cb091d7ea3705278c3b3&_phsrc=EzO9366&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/31648:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=8e535fe003d7cb091d7ea3705278c3b3&_phsrc=EzO9367&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30442731:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=62ab3369903d0dfe1e57bc250203223b&_phsrc=cuv17&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56777962/robert-edward-truitt: accessed 16 January 2023), memorial page for RM2 Robert Edward Truitt (1925–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56777962, 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/194107674/robert-edward-truitt: accessed 16 January 2023), memorial page for Robert Edward Truitt (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194107674, 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:/61903/1:1:3SLK-RZM : accessed 16 January 2023), Robert Truitt in household of Joseph E Truitt, Savannah, Chatham, Georgia
• "Florida State Census, 1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNVS-WVN : 14 June 2022), Robert E Truit in household of Joseph E Truit, Duval, Duval, Florida
• "United States Census, 1940" https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTHX-WWC
• "Florida State Census, 1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNFF-X25 : 23 February 2021), Robt Edward Truett, Jacksonville, Duval, Florida