Friday, May 4, 1945 Rockford Morning Star
Lieut. J.B Sheets dies at sea
Killed in action in Pacific zone
Lieut. (J.G.) Jerome Butler Sheets, who saw action aboard a destroyer during the invasion of Normandy and subsequently served in a series of Pacific engagements in the Philippines and Ryukyu Islands, has been killed in action at sea, a navy department telegram yesterday informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Sheets, 113 Lawn Place." Jerry" was 24 years old on March 26 and was the youngest of the three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Sheets.
The telegram did not disclose the date or place of his death.
His last letter home dated April 11, told his parents that his ship to which he had been assigned December 17, 1943, and on which he had seen continuous service since the destroyer was commissioned early in 1944, had operated with carriers that struck Tokyo on February 16,17 and 26, and that it had supported landings on Iwo Jima.
Six days before his birthday this year, he wrote: "We've seen more action than many destroyers that have been here 15 to 18 months, but that's what we're here for. I'm where I want to be, doing what I think I should be doing, and I'm satisfied."
A recent letter told, too, of how he and Ensign Edwin B. Early of Rockford had had a reunion in the Pacific in February, for about an hour. Ensign Early's mother, Mrs. B.B. Early, 211 Guard St, was notified this week that her son, Who had been fire control officer on the destroyer Halligan, was missing in action. The Halligan has been reported sunk in action in the Pacific, one of 15 vessels lost off Okinawa.
At Ormoc, Lieut. Sheets wrote not long ago, he had seen 28 Japanese plane shot down. His ship had also gone into action off Leyte, Manilla, Mindoro, Lingayen, and Mindanao; and in one Philippine engagement it had fought its way through a typhoon that whipped the island waters into waves 50 foot high.
Lieut. Sheetz had paid his last visit home last July, when he was on rest leave following his destroyers participation in the battle of Normandy, in which the ship was damaged. Although the destroyer was hit during the Normandy invasion, Jerry, the youngest officer aboard, was not injured.
He was born here March 26, 1921. His father a regimental sergeant major in the 86th division during the first world war, was in service for 22 months during that war and served overseas with the A.E.F.
Jerry enlisted on July 3, 1941, was assigned to the naval reserve officer training corps under "V-1" at the University of Michigan, and in January 1943, received his bachelor of arts degree, having completed his course in three and a half years. He majored in economics, was elected a member of the Druids, senior honorary society, served as senior track manager of the varsity track team, and was treasurer and house manager of Ann Arbor chapter of his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi.
He requested service aboard a destroyer, and had been on sea duty since February, 1944.
He leaves, beside his parents, his brothers Brice and Roger Sheets; two nieces, Judith and Doreen Sheets, and three nephews Marshall, Steven and David Sheets; an uncle, Harold Sheets of New York City, who has just returned to this country after a mission to Europe; and an aunt, Mrs. Harriet Sheets Chambers of Pecatonica. Lt. Sheets' father is president and treasurer of the Sheets-Rockford Silver company. The young officers maternal grandfather, the late Chris Henry was one of Rockford's prominent early day merchants; and his paternal grandfather, the late Rev. Frank Sheets was a well-known clergyman and member of Rock River Methodist conference.
Lt(J.G.) U.S.N.R Killed in action off Okinawa on the U.S.S. Laffey, burial at sea April 16, 1945
Lieut. J.B Sheets dies at sea
Killed in action in Pacific zone
Lieut. (J.G.) Jerome Butler Sheets, who saw action aboard a destroyer during the invasion of Normandy and subsequently served in a series of Pacific engagements in the Philippines and Ryukyu Islands, has been killed in action at sea, a navy department telegram yesterday informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Sheets, 113 Lawn Place." Jerry" was 24 years old on March 26 and was the youngest of the three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Sheets.
The telegram did not disclose the date or place of his death.
His last letter home dated April 11, told his parents that his ship to which he had been assigned December 17, 1943, and on which he had seen continuous service since the destroyer was commissioned early in 1944, had operated with carriers that struck Tokyo on February 16,17 and 26, and that it had supported landings on Iwo Jima.
Six days before his birthday this year, he wrote: "We've seen more action than many destroyers that have been here 15 to 18 months, but that's what we're here for. I'm where I want to be, doing what I think I should be doing, and I'm satisfied."
A recent letter told, too, of how he and Ensign Edwin B. Early of Rockford had had a reunion in the Pacific in February, for about an hour. Ensign Early's mother, Mrs. B.B. Early, 211 Guard St, was notified this week that her son, Who had been fire control officer on the destroyer Halligan, was missing in action. The Halligan has been reported sunk in action in the Pacific, one of 15 vessels lost off Okinawa.
At Ormoc, Lieut. Sheets wrote not long ago, he had seen 28 Japanese plane shot down. His ship had also gone into action off Leyte, Manilla, Mindoro, Lingayen, and Mindanao; and in one Philippine engagement it had fought its way through a typhoon that whipped the island waters into waves 50 foot high.
Lieut. Sheetz had paid his last visit home last July, when he was on rest leave following his destroyers participation in the battle of Normandy, in which the ship was damaged. Although the destroyer was hit during the Normandy invasion, Jerry, the youngest officer aboard, was not injured.
He was born here March 26, 1921. His father a regimental sergeant major in the 86th division during the first world war, was in service for 22 months during that war and served overseas with the A.E.F.
Jerry enlisted on July 3, 1941, was assigned to the naval reserve officer training corps under "V-1" at the University of Michigan, and in January 1943, received his bachelor of arts degree, having completed his course in three and a half years. He majored in economics, was elected a member of the Druids, senior honorary society, served as senior track manager of the varsity track team, and was treasurer and house manager of Ann Arbor chapter of his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi.
He requested service aboard a destroyer, and had been on sea duty since February, 1944.
He leaves, beside his parents, his brothers Brice and Roger Sheets; two nieces, Judith and Doreen Sheets, and three nephews Marshall, Steven and David Sheets; an uncle, Harold Sheets of New York City, who has just returned to this country after a mission to Europe; and an aunt, Mrs. Harriet Sheets Chambers of Pecatonica. Lt. Sheets' father is president and treasurer of the Sheets-Rockford Silver company. The young officers maternal grandfather, the late Chris Henry was one of Rockford's prominent early day merchants; and his paternal grandfather, the late Rev. Frank Sheets was a well-known clergyman and member of Rock River Methodist conference.
Lt(J.G.) U.S.N.R Killed in action off Okinawa on the U.S.S. Laffey, burial at sea April 16, 1945
Friday, May 4, 1945 Rockford Morning Star
Lieut. J.B Sheets dies at sea
Killed in action in Pacific zone
Lieut. (J.G.) Jerome Butler Sheets, who saw action aboard a destroyer during the invasion of Normandy and subsequently served in a series of Pacific engagements in the Philippines and Ryukyu Islands, has been killed in action at sea, a navy department telegram yesterday informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Sheets, 113 Lawn Place." Jerry" was 24 years old on March 26 and was the youngest of the three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Sheets.
The telegram did not disclose the date or place of his death.
His last letter home dated April 11, told his parents that his ship to which he had been assigned December 17, 1943, and on which he had seen continuous service since the destroyer was commissioned early in 1944, had operated with carriers that struck Tokyo on February 16,17 and 26, and that it had supported landings on Iwo Jima.
Six days before his birthday this year, he wrote: "We've seen more action than many destroyers that have been here 15 to 18 months, but that's what we're here for. I'm where I want to be, doing what I think I should be doing, and I'm satisfied."
A recent letter told, too, of how he and Ensign Edwin B. Early of Rockford had had a reunion in the Pacific in February, for about an hour. Ensign Early's mother, Mrs. B.B. Early, 211 Guard St, was notified this week that her son, Who had been fire control officer on the destroyer Halligan, was missing in action. The Halligan has been reported sunk in action in the Pacific, one of 15 vessels lost off Okinawa.
At Ormoc, Lieut. Sheets wrote not long ago, he had seen 28 Japanese plane shot down. His ship had also gone into action off Leyte, Manilla, Mindoro, Lingayen, and Mindanao; and in one Philippine engagement it had fought its way through a typhoon that whipped the island waters into waves 50 foot high.
Lieut. Sheetz had paid his last visit home last July, when he was on rest leave following his destroyers participation in the battle of Normandy, in which the ship was damaged. Although the destroyer was hit during the Normandy invasion, Jerry, the youngest officer aboard, was not injured.
He was born here March 26, 1921. His father a regimental sergeant major in the 86th division during the first world war, was in service for 22 months during that war and served overseas with the A.E.F.
Jerry enlisted on July 3, 1941, was assigned to the naval reserve officer training corps under "V-1" at the University of Michigan, and in January 1943, received his bachelor of arts degree, having completed his course in three and a half years. He majored in economics, was elected a member of the Druids, senior honorary society, served as senior track manager of the varsity track team, and was treasurer and house manager of Ann Arbor chapter of his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi.
He requested service aboard a destroyer, and had been on sea duty since February, 1944.
He leaves, beside his parents, his brothers Brice and Roger Sheets; two nieces, Judith and Doreen Sheets, and three nephews Marshall, Steven and David Sheets; an uncle, Harold Sheets of New York City, who has just returned to this country after a mission to Europe; and an aunt, Mrs. Harriet Sheets Chambers of Pecatonica. Lt. Sheets' father is president and treasurer of the Sheets-Rockford Silver company. The young officers maternal grandfather, the late Chris Henry was one of Rockford's prominent early day merchants; and his paternal grandfather, the late Rev. Frank Sheets was a well-known clergyman and member of Rock River Methodist conference.
Lt(J.G.) U.S.N.R Killed in action off Okinawa on the U.S.S. Laffey, burial at sea April 16, 1945
Lieut. J.B Sheets dies at sea
Killed in action in Pacific zone
Lieut. (J.G.) Jerome Butler Sheets, who saw action aboard a destroyer during the invasion of Normandy and subsequently served in a series of Pacific engagements in the Philippines and Ryukyu Islands, has been killed in action at sea, a navy department telegram yesterday informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Sheets, 113 Lawn Place." Jerry" was 24 years old on March 26 and was the youngest of the three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Sheets.
The telegram did not disclose the date or place of his death.
His last letter home dated April 11, told his parents that his ship to which he had been assigned December 17, 1943, and on which he had seen continuous service since the destroyer was commissioned early in 1944, had operated with carriers that struck Tokyo on February 16,17 and 26, and that it had supported landings on Iwo Jima.
Six days before his birthday this year, he wrote: "We've seen more action than many destroyers that have been here 15 to 18 months, but that's what we're here for. I'm where I want to be, doing what I think I should be doing, and I'm satisfied."
A recent letter told, too, of how he and Ensign Edwin B. Early of Rockford had had a reunion in the Pacific in February, for about an hour. Ensign Early's mother, Mrs. B.B. Early, 211 Guard St, was notified this week that her son, Who had been fire control officer on the destroyer Halligan, was missing in action. The Halligan has been reported sunk in action in the Pacific, one of 15 vessels lost off Okinawa.
At Ormoc, Lieut. Sheets wrote not long ago, he had seen 28 Japanese plane shot down. His ship had also gone into action off Leyte, Manilla, Mindoro, Lingayen, and Mindanao; and in one Philippine engagement it had fought its way through a typhoon that whipped the island waters into waves 50 foot high.
Lieut. Sheetz had paid his last visit home last July, when he was on rest leave following his destroyers participation in the battle of Normandy, in which the ship was damaged. Although the destroyer was hit during the Normandy invasion, Jerry, the youngest officer aboard, was not injured.
He was born here March 26, 1921. His father a regimental sergeant major in the 86th division during the first world war, was in service for 22 months during that war and served overseas with the A.E.F.
Jerry enlisted on July 3, 1941, was assigned to the naval reserve officer training corps under "V-1" at the University of Michigan, and in January 1943, received his bachelor of arts degree, having completed his course in three and a half years. He majored in economics, was elected a member of the Druids, senior honorary society, served as senior track manager of the varsity track team, and was treasurer and house manager of Ann Arbor chapter of his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi.
He requested service aboard a destroyer, and had been on sea duty since February, 1944.
He leaves, beside his parents, his brothers Brice and Roger Sheets; two nieces, Judith and Doreen Sheets, and three nephews Marshall, Steven and David Sheets; an uncle, Harold Sheets of New York City, who has just returned to this country after a mission to Europe; and an aunt, Mrs. Harriet Sheets Chambers of Pecatonica. Lt. Sheets' father is president and treasurer of the Sheets-Rockford Silver company. The young officers maternal grandfather, the late Chris Henry was one of Rockford's prominent early day merchants; and his paternal grandfather, the late Rev. Frank Sheets was a well-known clergyman and member of Rock River Methodist conference.
Lt(J.G.) U.S.N.R Killed in action off Okinawa on the U.S.S. Laffey, burial at sea April 16, 1945
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