James Newell Wakefield (1910 - 1945)

Born 7 Sep 1910 in Finley, Ohio

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 34 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 1st Class James Wakefield served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 31 Dec 1944
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 1st Class James Wakefield was Killed in Action during World War II.

James Wakefield was awarded the Purple Heart.

James was born in Finley, Ohio in 1910. His father was Harold Austin Wakefield.

James married Lolita R Lowry 26 Dec 1931^[1] In 1936 James married Velma Elizabeth Moore in 1936 in Oklahoma. Unknown what happened to Lolita. The 1940 census shows they have 2 children: Vera 1938 and Earl 1939.^[2]

James entered the Naval Reserve and was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 31 Dec 1944 as Seaman 1st 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. James was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

James is honored at two memorials: U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines^[8][9]

Sources

1. ↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8J7-D61 : 9 March 2021), James N Wakefield and Lolita R Lowry, 26 Dec 1931; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,940.
2. ↑ 1940 US Census https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4QY-574
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/61520:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=e9e1f6e009d7d780a017cfa536aba2bb&_phsrc=EzO9319&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/27482:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=e9e1f6e009d7d780a017cfa536aba2bb&_phsrc=EzO9320&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/110004:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=e9e1f6e009d7d780a017cfa536aba2bb&_phsrc=EzO9321&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32061776:1143
7. ↑ U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/149680:4283?tid=&pid=&queryId=e9e1f6e009d7d780a017cfa536aba2bb&_phsrc=EzO9322&_phstart=successSource
8. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKT-85VS : 22 November 2022), James Newell Wakefield, ; Burial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial; citing record ID 56750679
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192929973/james-newell-wakefield: accessed 14 December 2022), memorial page for James Newell Wakefield (10 Jul 1910–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 192929973, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Shoshana & Dr K (contributor 47813956).

• U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/333093:1102?ssrc=pt&tid=116248254&pid=200146505418
• "Texas, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", database with images, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3N-CBDZ : 3 March 2020), James Newell Wakefield, 1940