Mercedes Texas Memorial

[avengers08]

Thanks for the welcome! I feel at home already. I'm concentrating on looking for info on a few of my guys right now. First I have LT Commander William Andrew Barton US Navy killed in action in the Pacific Theater of War on July 31, 1944.Service number 80704. He is buried in Mercedes Texas.
I have checked aircraft carrier muster rolls and looked into any ships that may have gone down on that day and I haven't had any luck. I also did the same with EM1C Charles Robert Hassell 6248334 US Navy died Feb 2,1945 and is buried in Sitka Alaska. Most soldiers buried in Sitka are from the Battle of Attu but that was in 1943. I did find Barton's twin boys who were 7 months old when their father died. They are 64 years young but they couldn't give me any more info. They did provide me with his picture in uniform.

Irma

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by avengers08

First I have LT Commander William Andrew Barton US Navy killed in action in the Pacific Theater of War on July 31, 1944.Service number 80704. He is buried in Mercedes Texas.

He is listed among Navy casualties but has an address of 1216 N 9th St, Temple, Texas. See attached file from WWII Casualties: Texas.

Originally Posted by avengers08

also did the same with EM1C Charles Robert Hassell 6248334 US Navy died Feb 2,1945 and is buried in Sitka Alaska. Most soldiers buried in Sitka are from the Battle of Attu but that was in 1943

According to the records from the Sitka Cemetery, Charles Robert Hassell's date of death was 2/2/1943. Other info was date of birth 5/27/1898, EM1 US Navy, buried Section 1, Site 40. I found this through a search at Nationwide Gravesite Locator.

Unfortunately, that does not totally help clarify the situation as the main land battle for Attu was not until May of 1943. There were, however, several naval skirmishes and at least one major battle in the period in question.

Interestingly, EM1 Hassell is not listed among the Navy casualties of Texas in World War II. See attached file from WWII Casualties: Texas. Is it possible that he originally enlisted from another state? That could help you find more information.

Sorry I couldn't find more, but I do think the date of death on EM1 Hassell is at least a start.

[Pirate-Drakk]

Originally Posted by Jim O

Sorry I couldn't find more, but I do think the date of death on EM1 Hassell is at least a start.

Nice work Jim O!

[avengers08]

Hi Jim,
The info you provided I already have but I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I sent a fax to Ft Richardson Cemetery in Alaska who has the Sitka records to see if they can give me some more leads. I did find all my Navy servicemen at lonesailor.com and was lucky that two of them had their ships listed in their information. I do know that Barton died somewhere in the Ellice Islands if that helps any.

Irma