WATTS, ALTON J. 02722162
State: MISSISSIPPI
Rank: MOTOR MACHINIST MATE FIRST CLASS
Service: UNITED STATES NAVY
Died: NOV 03 1943
MONUMENT: FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY, MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES
STATUS: MISSING
PURPLE HEART MEDAL
Family states that Alton John died when a Torpedo hit his ship during WWII II near the Solomon Island. He was in the engine room. He and 13 others were never found.
The USS FOOTE DD-511, one of 175 Fletcher Class destroyers constructed in less than a thousand days during WWII, was built in Bath, Maine, launched Oct. 11, 1942 and commissioned in December, 1942 at Boston, Massachusetts.
It was during the battle of Empress Augusta Bay off Bougainville on the night of November 2, 1943, that Captain Burke's "LITTLE BEAVERS" proved that fast destroyers operating in unison could defeat a superior enemy force. However the FOOTE's participation in the Solomon's Campaign was cut short when a Japanese torpedo hit her fantail, destroying 55 feet and killing 19 gallant men. The blow, while nearly fatal, did not destroy the ship. With quick action by the crew, the flood of seawater was slowed. During the battle, other ships in the squadron surrounded the ship and ith the sunrise, she remained afloat. The tugboat, USS Bobolink helped to tow the FOOTE to San Pedro, California where she was repaired. After a new stern was welded into place, the ship and her crew returned to the Pacific in fighting trim to join the assault on the Philippines.
*****
Death location suggested on 15 Sep 2021 by Buffalo; FIND A GRAVE ID 50696055
Memorial Site here
State: MISSISSIPPI
Rank: MOTOR MACHINIST MATE FIRST CLASS
Service: UNITED STATES NAVY
Died: NOV 03 1943
MONUMENT: FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY, MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES
STATUS: MISSING
PURPLE HEART MEDAL
Family states that Alton John died when a Torpedo hit his ship during WWII II near the Solomon Island. He was in the engine room. He and 13 others were never found.
The USS FOOTE DD-511, one of 175 Fletcher Class destroyers constructed in less than a thousand days during WWII, was built in Bath, Maine, launched Oct. 11, 1942 and commissioned in December, 1942 at Boston, Massachusetts.
It was during the battle of Empress Augusta Bay off Bougainville on the night of November 2, 1943, that Captain Burke's "LITTLE BEAVERS" proved that fast destroyers operating in unison could defeat a superior enemy force. However the FOOTE's participation in the Solomon's Campaign was cut short when a Japanese torpedo hit her fantail, destroying 55 feet and killing 19 gallant men. The blow, while nearly fatal, did not destroy the ship. With quick action by the crew, the flood of seawater was slowed. During the battle, other ships in the squadron surrounded the ship and ith the sunrise, she remained afloat. The tugboat, USS Bobolink helped to tow the FOOTE to San Pedro, California where she was repaired. After a new stern was welded into place, the ship and her crew returned to the Pacific in fighting trim to join the assault on the Philippines.
*****
Death location suggested on 15 Sep 2021 by Buffalo; FIND A GRAVE ID 50696055
Memorial Site here
WATTS, ALTON J. 02722162
State: MISSISSIPPI
Rank: MOTOR MACHINIST MATE FIRST CLASS
Service: UNITED STATES NAVY
Died: NOV 03 1943
MONUMENT: FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY, MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES
STATUS: MISSING
PURPLE HEART MEDAL
Family states that Alton John died when a Torpedo hit his ship during WWII II near the Solomon Island. He was in the engine room. He and 13 others were never found.
The USS FOOTE DD-511, one of 175 Fletcher Class destroyers constructed in less than a thousand days during WWII, was built in Bath, Maine, launched Oct. 11, 1942 and commissioned in December, 1942 at Boston, Massachusetts.
It was during the battle of Empress Augusta Bay off Bougainville on the night of November 2, 1943, that Captain Burke's "LITTLE BEAVERS" proved that fast destroyers operating in unison could defeat a superior enemy force. However the FOOTE's participation in the Solomon's Campaign was cut short when a Japanese torpedo hit her fantail, destroying 55 feet and killing 19 gallant men. The blow, while nearly fatal, did not destroy the ship. With quick action by the crew, the flood of seawater was slowed. During the battle, other ships in the squadron surrounded the ship and ith the sunrise, she remained afloat. The tugboat, USS Bobolink helped to tow the FOOTE to San Pedro, California where she was repaired. After a new stern was welded into place, the ship and her crew returned to the Pacific in fighting trim to join the assault on the Philippines.
*****
Death location suggested on 15 Sep 2021 by Buffalo; FIND A GRAVE ID 50696055
Memorial Site here
State: MISSISSIPPI
Rank: MOTOR MACHINIST MATE FIRST CLASS
Service: UNITED STATES NAVY
Died: NOV 03 1943
MONUMENT: FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY, MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES
STATUS: MISSING
PURPLE HEART MEDAL
Family states that Alton John died when a Torpedo hit his ship during WWII II near the Solomon Island. He was in the engine room. He and 13 others were never found.
The USS FOOTE DD-511, one of 175 Fletcher Class destroyers constructed in less than a thousand days during WWII, was built in Bath, Maine, launched Oct. 11, 1942 and commissioned in December, 1942 at Boston, Massachusetts.
It was during the battle of Empress Augusta Bay off Bougainville on the night of November 2, 1943, that Captain Burke's "LITTLE BEAVERS" proved that fast destroyers operating in unison could defeat a superior enemy force. However the FOOTE's participation in the Solomon's Campaign was cut short when a Japanese torpedo hit her fantail, destroying 55 feet and killing 19 gallant men. The blow, while nearly fatal, did not destroy the ship. With quick action by the crew, the flood of seawater was slowed. During the battle, other ships in the squadron surrounded the ship and ith the sunrise, she remained afloat. The tugboat, USS Bobolink helped to tow the FOOTE to San Pedro, California where she was repaired. After a new stern was welded into place, the ship and her crew returned to the Pacific in fighting trim to join the assault on the Philippines.
*****
Death location suggested on 15 Sep 2021 by Buffalo; FIND A GRAVE ID 50696055
Memorial Site here
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