William Robertson Warren (1923 - 1945)

Born 9 Feb 1923 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 22 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Radio Technician 3rd Class William Warren served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started:
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Radio Technician 3rd Class William Warren was Killed in Action during World War II.

William Warren was awarded the Purple Heart.

William was born in Oregon in 1923. His parents were George Atkinson Warren 1878–1938 and Nan Wood Robertson 1885–1928. Williams grandparents, Frank Manley Warren and Anna Sophia Atkinson were aboard the Titanic, traveling 1st Class when it sank, Frank perished but his wife Anna survived.

William was stationed on the USS Indianapolis as a Radio Technician 3rd Class on 7 Dec 1941. 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.^[1][2][3][4]

William is honored at three memorial sites. The U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana and the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines and with his family at River View Cemetery, Portland, Maine^[5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32065285:1143?ssrc=pt&tid=150842963&pid=352107758452
2. ↑ U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/336255:1102?ssrc=pt&tid=150842963&pid=352107758452
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63846:2324?ssrc=pt&tid=150842963&pid=352107758452
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/112337:1122?ssrc=pt&tid=150842963&pid=352107758452
5. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKT-8YHG : 20 October 2022), William Robertson Warren, ; Burial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
6. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2C-HNKQ : 6 August 2020), William Robertson Warren, ; Burial, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States of America, River View Cemetery

• "Oregon, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYV-KPM5 : 3 March 2020), William Robertson Warren, 1942
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC91-QZ9 : accessed 14 November 2022), William R Warren in household of George A Warren, Portland (Districts 1-219), Multnomah, Oregon