Charles Thomas Odle of Grandview - Navy - Killed in Action March 1, 1942, when his ship, the USS Pillsbury, was sunk by the Japanese warship Ashigara south of Java.
Information below is from http://iagenweb.org/louisa/philip_bailey.htm
Charles Thomas Odle Is Now Declared Dead
After waiting hopefully for three years and nine months for news regarding the safety of their son Charles Thomas Odle, S1c, listed as missing in action, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Odle have received official notice declaring him dead, from the secretary of the Navy. The announcement reads as follows: "Your son, Charles Thomas Odle, Seaman first class, U.S. Navy, had been carried on the official records of the Navy Department in the status of missing in action as of 1 March 1942, when the USS Pillsbury, the ship aboard which he had served, was reported lost as a result of enemy action.
According to information which has now been received, on 28 Feb 1942, a strong enemy force operating in two groups about 150 miles southeast of Tjilatjap, Java, were reported headed toward the northwest. On 1 March 1942 all allied surface vessels operating in the vicinity of Java were ordered to proceed to Exmouth Gulf, Australia. In compliance with this order, the Pillsbury left Tjilatjap at 3:46 p.m. on that date. Since that time, no further information has been received concerning the Pillsbury or any member of her crew. It is believed that the vessel was lost in the vicinity of Ball Strait following an engagement with the enemy. In view of the length of time that has elapsed since your son was determined to be missing in action, because of the strong possibility that he lost his life during an engagement with the enemy afterward, on the water, because no official nor unconfirmed reports have been received that any of the crew survived, because his name has not appeared on any lists or reports of personnel liberated from Japanese prisoner of war camps, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that he is deceased,
In compliance with Section 5 of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, as amended, the death of your son is, for the purposes of termination of pay and allowances, settlement of accounts, and payment of death gratuities, presumed to have occurred on Nov. 25, 1945. I know what little solace the formal and written word can be to help meet the burden of your loss, but in spite of that knowledge, I cannot refrain from saying very simply that I am sorry. It is hoped that you may find comfort in the thought that your son gave his life for his country, upholding the highest traditions of the Navy. Sincerely James Forrestal" Clipping dated December 1945.
Service # 3214270
Rank Seaman First Class U.S. Navy
Entered Service From Iowa
Date of Death November 25 1945 (Declared Dead)
Status Missing In Action
★ Purple Heart
ODLE, Charles T, SEA1, 3214270, USN, from Iowa, USS Pillsbury, location Indian Ocean, missing, date of loss March 1, 1942.
Charles Thomas Odle of Grandview - Navy - Killed in Action March 1, 1942, when his ship, the USS Pillsbury, was sunk by the Japanese warship Ashigara south of Java.
Information below is from http://iagenweb.org/louisa/philip_bailey.htm
Charles Thomas Odle Is Now Declared Dead
After waiting hopefully for three years and nine months for news regarding the safety of their son Charles Thomas Odle, S1c, listed as missing in action, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Odle have received official notice declaring him dead, from the secretary of the Navy. The announcement reads as follows: "Your son, Charles Thomas Odle, Seaman first class, U.S. Navy, had been carried on the official records of the Navy Department in the status of missing in action as of 1 March 1942, when the USS Pillsbury, the ship aboard which he had served, was reported lost as a result of enemy action.
According to information which has now been received, on 28 Feb 1942, a strong enemy force operating in two groups about 150 miles southeast of Tjilatjap, Java, were reported headed toward the northwest. On 1 March 1942 all allied surface vessels operating in the vicinity of Java were ordered to proceed to Exmouth Gulf, Australia. In compliance with this order, the Pillsbury left Tjilatjap at 3:46 p.m. on that date. Since that time, no further information has been received concerning the Pillsbury or any member of her crew. It is believed that the vessel was lost in the vicinity of Ball Strait following an engagement with the enemy. In view of the length of time that has elapsed since your son was determined to be missing in action, because of the strong possibility that he lost his life during an engagement with the enemy afterward, on the water, because no official nor unconfirmed reports have been received that any of the crew survived, because his name has not appeared on any lists or reports of personnel liberated from Japanese prisoner of war camps, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that he is deceased,
In compliance with Section 5 of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, as amended, the death of your son is, for the purposes of termination of pay and allowances, settlement of accounts, and payment of death gratuities, presumed to have occurred on Nov. 25, 1945. I know what little solace the formal and written word can be to help meet the burden of your loss, but in spite of that knowledge, I cannot refrain from saying very simply that I am sorry. It is hoped that you may find comfort in the thought that your son gave his life for his country, upholding the highest traditions of the Navy. Sincerely James Forrestal" Clipping dated December 1945.
Service # 3214270
Rank Seaman First Class U.S. Navy
Entered Service From Iowa
Date of Death November 25 1945 (Declared Dead)
Status Missing In Action
★ Purple Heart
ODLE, Charles T, SEA1, 3214270, USN, from Iowa, USS Pillsbury, location Indian Ocean, missing, date of loss March 1, 1942.
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