William, who resided on Naaman's Road, Wilmington, Delaware, served as a Machinist's Mate First Class on the cruiser U.S.S. Indianapolis, U.S. Navy during World War II.
The Indianapolis was struck on her starboard bow by two Type 95 torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-58 approximately half way between Guam and the Philippines. The explosions caused massive damage. The Indianapolis took on a heavy list, and settled by the bow. Twelve minutes later, she rolled completely over, then her stern rose into the air, and she plunged down during the war.
Out of a total crew of 1,196, approximately 310 went down with ship and approximately 880 were set adrift. The Navy was, at that time, unaware that anything had happened to the ship until survivor were seen adrift in the water. When spotted they had been adrift three and a half days. Out of the 880 only 321 survived with 4 of them dying within the next few days.
William was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He had served in the Navy for two years and eleven months at the time of his death and was decorated with a Purple Heart.
Service # 6509197
At the families request, his state of birth was added to his listing (Pennsylvania) instead of his state of residence, as was normally done, (Delaware).
Son of David Byrd Rue (b.1888) and Clara F Rue (b.1889).
Husband of Isabelle Corson Rue.
Brother of Edith and James L. Rue.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Historical Note: The Indianapolis was assigned a secret mission which they completed only four days prior to the ships sinking. On July 16th they departed San Francisco heading to Tinian island carrying parts and the enriched uranium (about half of the world's supply of Uranium-235 at the time) for the atomic bomb Little Boy, which would later be dropped on Hiroshima. They successfully completed that mission.
Bio by:
Russ Pickett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Indianapolis was struck on her starboard bow by two Type 95 torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-58 approximately half way between Guam and the Philippines. The explosions caused massive damage. The Indianapolis took on a heavy list, and settled by the bow. Twelve minutes later, she rolled completely over, then her stern rose into the air, and she plunged down during the war.
Out of a total crew of 1,196, approximately 310 went down with ship and approximately 880 were set adrift. The Navy was, at that time, unaware that anything had happened to the ship until survivor were seen adrift in the water. When spotted they had been adrift three and a half days. Out of the 880 only 321 survived with 4 of them dying within the next few days.
William was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He had served in the Navy for two years and eleven months at the time of his death and was decorated with a Purple Heart.
Service # 6509197
At the families request, his state of birth was added to his listing (Pennsylvania) instead of his state of residence, as was normally done, (Delaware).
Son of David Byrd Rue (b.1888) and Clara F Rue (b.1889).
Husband of Isabelle Corson Rue.
Brother of Edith and James L. Rue.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Historical Note: The Indianapolis was assigned a secret mission which they completed only four days prior to the ships sinking. On July 16th they departed San Francisco heading to Tinian island carrying parts and the enriched uranium (about half of the world's supply of Uranium-235 at the time) for the atomic bomb Little Boy, which would later be dropped on Hiroshima. They successfully completed that mission.
Bio by:
Russ Pickett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William, who resided on Naaman's Road, Wilmington, Delaware, served as a Machinist's Mate First Class on the cruiser U.S.S. Indianapolis, U.S. Navy during World War II.
The Indianapolis was struck on her starboard bow by two Type 95 torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-58 approximately half way between Guam and the Philippines. The explosions caused massive damage. The Indianapolis took on a heavy list, and settled by the bow. Twelve minutes later, she rolled completely over, then her stern rose into the air, and she plunged down during the war.
Out of a total crew of 1,196, approximately 310 went down with ship and approximately 880 were set adrift. The Navy was, at that time, unaware that anything had happened to the ship until survivor were seen adrift in the water. When spotted they had been adrift three and a half days. Out of the 880 only 321 survived with 4 of them dying within the next few days.
William was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He had served in the Navy for two years and eleven months at the time of his death and was decorated with a Purple Heart.
Service # 6509197
At the families request, his state of birth was added to his listing (Pennsylvania) instead of his state of residence, as was normally done, (Delaware).
Son of David Byrd Rue (b.1888) and Clara F Rue (b.1889).
Husband of Isabelle Corson Rue.
Brother of Edith and James L. Rue.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Historical Note: The Indianapolis was assigned a secret mission which they completed only four days prior to the ships sinking. On July 16th they departed San Francisco heading to Tinian island carrying parts and the enriched uranium (about half of the world's supply of Uranium-235 at the time) for the atomic bomb Little Boy, which would later be dropped on Hiroshima. They successfully completed that mission.
Bio by:
Russ Pickett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Indianapolis was struck on her starboard bow by two Type 95 torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-58 approximately half way between Guam and the Philippines. The explosions caused massive damage. The Indianapolis took on a heavy list, and settled by the bow. Twelve minutes later, she rolled completely over, then her stern rose into the air, and she plunged down during the war.
Out of a total crew of 1,196, approximately 310 went down with ship and approximately 880 were set adrift. The Navy was, at that time, unaware that anything had happened to the ship until survivor were seen adrift in the water. When spotted they had been adrift three and a half days. Out of the 880 only 321 survived with 4 of them dying within the next few days.
William was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He had served in the Navy for two years and eleven months at the time of his death and was decorated with a Purple Heart.
Service # 6509197
At the families request, his state of birth was added to his listing (Pennsylvania) instead of his state of residence, as was normally done, (Delaware).
Son of David Byrd Rue (b.1888) and Clara F Rue (b.1889).
Husband of Isabelle Corson Rue.
Brother of Edith and James L. Rue.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Historical Note: The Indianapolis was assigned a secret mission which they completed only four days prior to the ships sinking. On July 16th they departed San Francisco heading to Tinian island carrying parts and the enriched uranium (about half of the world's supply of Uranium-235 at the time) for the atomic bomb Little Boy, which would later be dropped on Hiroshima. They successfully completed that mission.
Bio by:
Russ Pickett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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