William Clifford Turner (1915 - 1945)

Born 9 Oct 1915 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 29 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class William Turner served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started:
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class William Turner was Killed in Action during World War II.

William Turner was awarded the Purple Heart.

William was born in 1915, the son of William A. Turner and Minnie G. Yeo.^[1]

William was a Machinist's Mate 2nd Class stationed on the USS Indianapolis. 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. William was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4]

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

Sources

1. ↑ "Washington, County Birth Registers, 1873-1965", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:8H86-LKW2 : 15 July 2020), William Clifford Turner, 1915
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/142397:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=64a98e584a03dae71f6a4a571779201e&_phsrc=EzO9348&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/93950:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=64a98e584a03dae71f6a4a571779201e&_phsrc=EzO9349&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10128:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=64a98e584a03dae71f6a4a571779201e&_phsrc=EzO9350&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194108998/william-clifford-turner: accessed 10 January 2023), memorial page for William Clifford Turner (9 Oct 1915–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194108998, 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/56786003/william-clifford-turner: accessed 10 January 2023), memorial page for MM2 William Clifford Turner (9 Oct 1915–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56786003, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJ9-VG8 : 4 February 2021), William C Turner in entry for William A Turner, 1920
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC3Y-N1S : accessed 11 January 2023), William C Turner in household of William A Turner, Tacoma, Pierce, Washington
• United States Census, 1940 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K93T-P2N