Westmont, NJ. 1940 graduate of the US Naval Academy. Crewmember on the USS Oklahoma.∼JOSEPH PARKER HITTORFF, JR., was born on 02 Dec 1916 in Kingston, Ulster, NY per his NY birth record (his obit published in 2016 stated he was born in Kingston, NJ which is incorrect). He was the son of J. Parker Hittorff, and Ethel Van Wagenen who married on 17 Feb 1909 in Kingston, Ulster, NY (in their marriage record from the Rondout Presbyterian Church, Joseph's middle name was listed as Peter). His only other sibling was his elder sister Marion Elizabeth. Joseph Jr on his maternal ancestry was the third ggrandson of William Benson (1761-1800) a member of the Troop of Horse of Ulster County, NY, 1776 during the American Revolution. His mother, Ethel, attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO., graduating with the class of 1901.
Joseph P. Hittorff Jr., known as "Bud" by his sister Marion, graduated from Collingswood (NJ) High School class of 1934, a year after his mother died unexpectedly on 04 May 1933. He was an Eagle Scout with Collingswood Troop 59 and was the manager of his High School football team during his senior year. Because of the economic conditions thrust upon the family during the Great Depression (his father Joseph Sr., had struggled to find steady work after his layoff at the Arbuckle coffee Company), Bud decided to apply to the Naval Academy for a college education. To bolster his chances in the competitive entrance exams, he attended in Philadelphia the Brown Preparatory School for mathematics and English .
In Jan 1935, Hittorff sought an appointment to the US Naval Academy from Congressman Charles A. Wolverton of the First New Jersey District via competitive entrance exams held under the direction of the U.S. Civil Service Commission in Camden. The aspirants were examined in algebra, geometry, English, physics, and history. Bud was not accepted for admission that year. The following year in Jan 1936, Hittorff went to Philadelphia where he took the Naval Academy entrance exam again. Later that day, he also sat for the entrance exam for the US Military Academy at West Point. This time his scores were high enough to qualify for an appointment to Annapolis from Congressman Wolverton.
He entered the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD on 18 Jun 1936 to begin his Plebe Summer. Known as Joe to his Academy classmates, Hittorff was described as a "self-made" man. Mentally and physically, he was a worker and fighter they noted. Said to be easy to become acquainted with and impossible to forget -- Joe was everybody's friend. During his tenure in Annapolis, Joe received numerals in varsity soccer and in plebe and varsity lacrosse and, in his first class year, participated in sailing races for the Admiral DuBose trophy.
He received a medal as first class gun pointer in short range battle practice in the 1939 middie cruise. He was a member of the Quarterdeck Society (debating club), Reception Committee, Boat club and the staff of the Lucky Bag year book. In the regimental organization Joe held the ranks of midshipman second petty officer in the first group, midshipman ensign in the second group and midshipman mustering petty officer in the final group (Courier Post, Camden, NJ – Thursday, 02 May 1940 – p.15.)
Hittorff finished the 4 year course at Annapolis with a merit standing of 138 in a graduating class of 456 members per the 1940 Annual Register of the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) and received his commission in the US Navy with the rank of Ensign on 06 Jun 1940. As was the custom in his day, Joe was expected to go to sea for his first duty assignment. So it was that on 01 July 1940, Ensign Hittorff reported on board the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37) for duty in Pearl Harbor. The Oklahoma had been based in Pearl Harbor since Dec 1937. In Feb 1941, she entered the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington for an overhaul. Later that year in Aug, she steamed to San Pedro for additional yard work.
Underway on 22 Aug. she encountered severe weather losing one sailor overboard and three injured. The next morning the crew conducted a damage assessment. A broken propeller shaft was found. Oklahoma was forced to steam to San Francisco the closest navy yard with an adequate drydock. Repaired and underway again, Oklahoma returned to Pearl Harbor in mid-Oct. Joe sent frequent letters home. In one from November 2, 1941, he expressed concern that there were war clouds on the horizon, and he was "expecting the worst -- and hoping for the best." (quote from his obituary published in 2016).
Just moments before the traditional, ceremonial raising of the colors on the Oklahoma's stern on 07 Dec 1941, the bombs started falling from Japanese attack aircraft. Oklahoma was moored outboard and alongside battleship USS Maryland (BB-46). Oklahoma was quickly hit by multiple aerial torpedoes. In less than twelve minutes, she partially rolled over until her superstructure contacted the bottom of the harbor. Ens. Hittorff was trapped below decks along with 19 other officers and 395 enlisted men who were later declared killed or missing.
On 16 Dec 1941, a telegram arrived at the residence of Joseph Hittorff, Sr., and his daughter Marion in Westmont, NJ. Joseph Sr drove to Philadelphia where Marion was working to tell her of the terrible news. It was among the first of 294,000 such telegrams that would be delivered to American families during WWII. It read: "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son Ensign Josepha Parker Hittorff Jr., United States Navy, was lost in action. . . . " "If remains are recovered, "the message added, "they will be interred temporarily in the locality where death occurred, and you will be notified accordingly."
-----------------------------
Ensign Hittorff's family received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:
In grateful memory of JOSEPH PARKER HITTORFF, Jr., who died in the service of his country at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, ATTACHED U.S.S. Oklahoma on 07 December 1941. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
//s// Franklin D. Roosevelt,
President of the United States of America
-------------------------------
During the salvage of the Oklahoma, Joe's academy ring and a ceremonial sword were recovered from the wreckage and returned to his family. However, there was never any word on his remains. The Navy still listed him missing in action or buried at sea. Joseph was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, The American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He is probably eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive to 07 Dec 1941).
In 2008, Marion Hittorff, who never married, learned that her brother's body might have been recovered decades ago, and might lie in a grave marked "unknown" at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii (Punchbowl). Marion donated a DNA sample to help in any identification effort conducted by the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). JPAC is charged with finding missing service personnel.
Marion died less than a year later after providing her DNA sample in 2008. On 07 Mar 2016, Hittorff's remaining family members were notified that his remains had been identified after being disinterred from the Punch Bowl Cemetery in Hawaii. On 10 Jun 2016, JPAC announced that the remains of Joseph P. Hittorff Jr. of Collingswood, NJ had been identified and would be returned for burial with full military honors 18 Jun 2016 in Kent, Connecticut, at the request of the family. Welcome home, Joe!
Regarding the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), see Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual online (SECNAVINST 1650.1H of Aug 22, 2006, chapter 8 - 831 para 3a (3)). It reads, "Personnel aboard a ship are eligible (for the CAR) when the safety of the ship and the crew was endangered by enemy attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air, or sub-surface elements." The eligibility is retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.
------------------------------
Sources:
1) Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY) – 07 Dec 2008, Sun – p.3 [clipped online 10 Sep 2019].
2) Courier-Post (Camden, NJ) – 14 Jun 2016, Tue – p. A9 [clipped online 10 Sep 2019]
3) Naval Academy Lucky Bag Yearbook 1940 (online Ancestry.com. photo clipped 10 Sep 2019)
4) Collingswood High School, Collingswood, NJ Class 1934 yearbook (Online Ancestry.com. photo clipped 10 Sep 2019)
-----------------------------
Bio #431 composed 10 Sep 2019 by Gerry Lawton (G47).
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 257010888
Military Hall of Honor ID#94293
Joseph P. Hittorff Jr., known as "Bud" by his sister Marion, graduated from Collingswood (NJ) High School class of 1934, a year after his mother died unexpectedly on 04 May 1933. He was an Eagle Scout with Collingswood Troop 59 and was the manager of his High School football team during his senior year. Because of the economic conditions thrust upon the family during the Great Depression (his father Joseph Sr., had struggled to find steady work after his layoff at the Arbuckle coffee Company), Bud decided to apply to the Naval Academy for a college education. To bolster his chances in the competitive entrance exams, he attended in Philadelphia the Brown Preparatory School for mathematics and English .
In Jan 1935, Hittorff sought an appointment to the US Naval Academy from Congressman Charles A. Wolverton of the First New Jersey District via competitive entrance exams held under the direction of the U.S. Civil Service Commission in Camden. The aspirants were examined in algebra, geometry, English, physics, and history. Bud was not accepted for admission that year. The following year in Jan 1936, Hittorff went to Philadelphia where he took the Naval Academy entrance exam again. Later that day, he also sat for the entrance exam for the US Military Academy at West Point. This time his scores were high enough to qualify for an appointment to Annapolis from Congressman Wolverton.
He entered the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD on 18 Jun 1936 to begin his Plebe Summer. Known as Joe to his Academy classmates, Hittorff was described as a "self-made" man. Mentally and physically, he was a worker and fighter they noted. Said to be easy to become acquainted with and impossible to forget -- Joe was everybody's friend. During his tenure in Annapolis, Joe received numerals in varsity soccer and in plebe and varsity lacrosse and, in his first class year, participated in sailing races for the Admiral DuBose trophy.
He received a medal as first class gun pointer in short range battle practice in the 1939 middie cruise. He was a member of the Quarterdeck Society (debating club), Reception Committee, Boat club and the staff of the Lucky Bag year book. In the regimental organization Joe held the ranks of midshipman second petty officer in the first group, midshipman ensign in the second group and midshipman mustering petty officer in the final group (Courier Post, Camden, NJ – Thursday, 02 May 1940 – p.15.)
Hittorff finished the 4 year course at Annapolis with a merit standing of 138 in a graduating class of 456 members per the 1940 Annual Register of the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) and received his commission in the US Navy with the rank of Ensign on 06 Jun 1940. As was the custom in his day, Joe was expected to go to sea for his first duty assignment. So it was that on 01 July 1940, Ensign Hittorff reported on board the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37) for duty in Pearl Harbor. The Oklahoma had been based in Pearl Harbor since Dec 1937. In Feb 1941, she entered the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington for an overhaul. Later that year in Aug, she steamed to San Pedro for additional yard work.
Underway on 22 Aug. she encountered severe weather losing one sailor overboard and three injured. The next morning the crew conducted a damage assessment. A broken propeller shaft was found. Oklahoma was forced to steam to San Francisco the closest navy yard with an adequate drydock. Repaired and underway again, Oklahoma returned to Pearl Harbor in mid-Oct. Joe sent frequent letters home. In one from November 2, 1941, he expressed concern that there were war clouds on the horizon, and he was "expecting the worst -- and hoping for the best." (quote from his obituary published in 2016).
Just moments before the traditional, ceremonial raising of the colors on the Oklahoma's stern on 07 Dec 1941, the bombs started falling from Japanese attack aircraft. Oklahoma was moored outboard and alongside battleship USS Maryland (BB-46). Oklahoma was quickly hit by multiple aerial torpedoes. In less than twelve minutes, she partially rolled over until her superstructure contacted the bottom of the harbor. Ens. Hittorff was trapped below decks along with 19 other officers and 395 enlisted men who were later declared killed or missing.
On 16 Dec 1941, a telegram arrived at the residence of Joseph Hittorff, Sr., and his daughter Marion in Westmont, NJ. Joseph Sr drove to Philadelphia where Marion was working to tell her of the terrible news. It was among the first of 294,000 such telegrams that would be delivered to American families during WWII. It read: "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son Ensign Josepha Parker Hittorff Jr., United States Navy, was lost in action. . . . " "If remains are recovered, "the message added, "they will be interred temporarily in the locality where death occurred, and you will be notified accordingly."
-----------------------------
Ensign Hittorff's family received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:
In grateful memory of JOSEPH PARKER HITTORFF, Jr., who died in the service of his country at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, ATTACHED U.S.S. Oklahoma on 07 December 1941. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
//s// Franklin D. Roosevelt,
President of the United States of America
-------------------------------
During the salvage of the Oklahoma, Joe's academy ring and a ceremonial sword were recovered from the wreckage and returned to his family. However, there was never any word on his remains. The Navy still listed him missing in action or buried at sea. Joseph was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, The American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He is probably eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive to 07 Dec 1941).
In 2008, Marion Hittorff, who never married, learned that her brother's body might have been recovered decades ago, and might lie in a grave marked "unknown" at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii (Punchbowl). Marion donated a DNA sample to help in any identification effort conducted by the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). JPAC is charged with finding missing service personnel.
Marion died less than a year later after providing her DNA sample in 2008. On 07 Mar 2016, Hittorff's remaining family members were notified that his remains had been identified after being disinterred from the Punch Bowl Cemetery in Hawaii. On 10 Jun 2016, JPAC announced that the remains of Joseph P. Hittorff Jr. of Collingswood, NJ had been identified and would be returned for burial with full military honors 18 Jun 2016 in Kent, Connecticut, at the request of the family. Welcome home, Joe!
Regarding the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), see Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual online (SECNAVINST 1650.1H of Aug 22, 2006, chapter 8 - 831 para 3a (3)). It reads, "Personnel aboard a ship are eligible (for the CAR) when the safety of the ship and the crew was endangered by enemy attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air, or sub-surface elements." The eligibility is retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.
------------------------------
Sources:
1) Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY) – 07 Dec 2008, Sun – p.3 [clipped online 10 Sep 2019].
2) Courier-Post (Camden, NJ) – 14 Jun 2016, Tue – p. A9 [clipped online 10 Sep 2019]
3) Naval Academy Lucky Bag Yearbook 1940 (online Ancestry.com. photo clipped 10 Sep 2019)
4) Collingswood High School, Collingswood, NJ Class 1934 yearbook (Online Ancestry.com. photo clipped 10 Sep 2019)
-----------------------------
Bio #431 composed 10 Sep 2019 by Gerry Lawton (G47).
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 257010888
Military Hall of Honor ID#94293
Westmont, NJ. 1940 graduate of the US Naval Academy. Crewmember on the USS Oklahoma.∼JOSEPH PARKER HITTORFF, JR., was born on 02 Dec 1916 in Kingston, Ulster, NY per his NY birth record (his obit published in 2016 stated he was born in Kingston, NJ which is incorrect). He was the son of J. Parker Hittorff, and Ethel Van Wagenen who married on 17 Feb 1909 in Kingston, Ulster, NY (in their marriage record from the Rondout Presbyterian Church, Joseph's middle name was listed as Peter). His only other sibling was his elder sister Marion Elizabeth. Joseph Jr on his maternal ancestry was the third ggrandson of William Benson (1761-1800) a member of the Troop of Horse of Ulster County, NY, 1776 during the American Revolution. His mother, Ethel, attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO., graduating with the class of 1901.
Joseph P. Hittorff Jr., known as "Bud" by his sister Marion, graduated from Collingswood (NJ) High School class of 1934, a year after his mother died unexpectedly on 04 May 1933. He was an Eagle Scout with Collingswood Troop 59 and was the manager of his High School football team during his senior year. Because of the economic conditions thrust upon the family during the Great Depression (his father Joseph Sr., had struggled to find steady work after his layoff at the Arbuckle coffee Company), Bud decided to apply to the Naval Academy for a college education. To bolster his chances in the competitive entrance exams, he attended in Philadelphia the Brown Preparatory School for mathematics and English .
In Jan 1935, Hittorff sought an appointment to the US Naval Academy from Congressman Charles A. Wolverton of the First New Jersey District via competitive entrance exams held under the direction of the U.S. Civil Service Commission in Camden. The aspirants were examined in algebra, geometry, English, physics, and history. Bud was not accepted for admission that year. The following year in Jan 1936, Hittorff went to Philadelphia where he took the Naval Academy entrance exam again. Later that day, he also sat for the entrance exam for the US Military Academy at West Point. This time his scores were high enough to qualify for an appointment to Annapolis from Congressman Wolverton.
He entered the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD on 18 Jun 1936 to begin his Plebe Summer. Known as Joe to his Academy classmates, Hittorff was described as a "self-made" man. Mentally and physically, he was a worker and fighter they noted. Said to be easy to become acquainted with and impossible to forget -- Joe was everybody's friend. During his tenure in Annapolis, Joe received numerals in varsity soccer and in plebe and varsity lacrosse and, in his first class year, participated in sailing races for the Admiral DuBose trophy.
He received a medal as first class gun pointer in short range battle practice in the 1939 middie cruise. He was a member of the Quarterdeck Society (debating club), Reception Committee, Boat club and the staff of the Lucky Bag year book. In the regimental organization Joe held the ranks of midshipman second petty officer in the first group, midshipman ensign in the second group and midshipman mustering petty officer in the final group (Courier Post, Camden, NJ – Thursday, 02 May 1940 – p.15.)
Hittorff finished the 4 year course at Annapolis with a merit standing of 138 in a graduating class of 456 members per the 1940 Annual Register of the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) and received his commission in the US Navy with the rank of Ensign on 06 Jun 1940. As was the custom in his day, Joe was expected to go to sea for his first duty assignment. So it was that on 01 July 1940, Ensign Hittorff reported on board the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37) for duty in Pearl Harbor. The Oklahoma had been based in Pearl Harbor since Dec 1937. In Feb 1941, she entered the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington for an overhaul. Later that year in Aug, she steamed to San Pedro for additional yard work.
Underway on 22 Aug. she encountered severe weather losing one sailor overboard and three injured. The next morning the crew conducted a damage assessment. A broken propeller shaft was found. Oklahoma was forced to steam to San Francisco the closest navy yard with an adequate drydock. Repaired and underway again, Oklahoma returned to Pearl Harbor in mid-Oct. Joe sent frequent letters home. In one from November 2, 1941, he expressed concern that there were war clouds on the horizon, and he was "expecting the worst -- and hoping for the best." (quote from his obituary published in 2016).
Just moments before the traditional, ceremonial raising of the colors on the Oklahoma's stern on 07 Dec 1941, the bombs started falling from Japanese attack aircraft. Oklahoma was moored outboard and alongside battleship USS Maryland (BB-46). Oklahoma was quickly hit by multiple aerial torpedoes. In less than twelve minutes, she partially rolled over until her superstructure contacted the bottom of the harbor. Ens. Hittorff was trapped below decks along with 19 other officers and 395 enlisted men who were later declared killed or missing.
On 16 Dec 1941, a telegram arrived at the residence of Joseph Hittorff, Sr., and his daughter Marion in Westmont, NJ. Joseph Sr drove to Philadelphia where Marion was working to tell her of the terrible news. It was among the first of 294,000 such telegrams that would be delivered to American families during WWII. It read: "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son Ensign Josepha Parker Hittorff Jr., United States Navy, was lost in action. . . . " "If remains are recovered, "the message added, "they will be interred temporarily in the locality where death occurred, and you will be notified accordingly."
-----------------------------
Ensign Hittorff's family received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:
In grateful memory of JOSEPH PARKER HITTORFF, Jr., who died in the service of his country at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, ATTACHED U.S.S. Oklahoma on 07 December 1941. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
//s// Franklin D. Roosevelt,
President of the United States of America
-------------------------------
During the salvage of the Oklahoma, Joe's academy ring and a ceremonial sword were recovered from the wreckage and returned to his family. However, there was never any word on his remains. The Navy still listed him missing in action or buried at sea. Joseph was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, The American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He is probably eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive to 07 Dec 1941).
In 2008, Marion Hittorff, who never married, learned that her brother's body might have been recovered decades ago, and might lie in a grave marked "unknown" at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii (Punchbowl). Marion donated a DNA sample to help in any identification effort conducted by the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). JPAC is charged with finding missing service personnel.
Marion died less than a year later after providing her DNA sample in 2008. On 07 Mar 2016, Hittorff's remaining family members were notified that his remains had been identified after being disinterred from the Punch Bowl Cemetery in Hawaii. On 10 Jun 2016, JPAC announced that the remains of Joseph P. Hittorff Jr. of Collingswood, NJ had been identified and would be returned for burial with full military honors 18 Jun 2016 in Kent, Connecticut, at the request of the family. Welcome home, Joe!
Regarding the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), see Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual online (SECNAVINST 1650.1H of Aug 22, 2006, chapter 8 - 831 para 3a (3)). It reads, "Personnel aboard a ship are eligible (for the CAR) when the safety of the ship and the crew was endangered by enemy attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air, or sub-surface elements." The eligibility is retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.
------------------------------
Sources:
1) Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY) – 07 Dec 2008, Sun – p.3 [clipped online 10 Sep 2019].
2) Courier-Post (Camden, NJ) – 14 Jun 2016, Tue – p. A9 [clipped online 10 Sep 2019]
3) Naval Academy Lucky Bag Yearbook 1940 (online Ancestry.com. photo clipped 10 Sep 2019)
4) Collingswood High School, Collingswood, NJ Class 1934 yearbook (Online Ancestry.com. photo clipped 10 Sep 2019)
-----------------------------
Bio #431 composed 10 Sep 2019 by Gerry Lawton (G47).
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 257010888
Military Hall of Honor ID#94293
Joseph P. Hittorff Jr., known as "Bud" by his sister Marion, graduated from Collingswood (NJ) High School class of 1934, a year after his mother died unexpectedly on 04 May 1933. He was an Eagle Scout with Collingswood Troop 59 and was the manager of his High School football team during his senior year. Because of the economic conditions thrust upon the family during the Great Depression (his father Joseph Sr., had struggled to find steady work after his layoff at the Arbuckle coffee Company), Bud decided to apply to the Naval Academy for a college education. To bolster his chances in the competitive entrance exams, he attended in Philadelphia the Brown Preparatory School for mathematics and English .
In Jan 1935, Hittorff sought an appointment to the US Naval Academy from Congressman Charles A. Wolverton of the First New Jersey District via competitive entrance exams held under the direction of the U.S. Civil Service Commission in Camden. The aspirants were examined in algebra, geometry, English, physics, and history. Bud was not accepted for admission that year. The following year in Jan 1936, Hittorff went to Philadelphia where he took the Naval Academy entrance exam again. Later that day, he also sat for the entrance exam for the US Military Academy at West Point. This time his scores were high enough to qualify for an appointment to Annapolis from Congressman Wolverton.
He entered the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD on 18 Jun 1936 to begin his Plebe Summer. Known as Joe to his Academy classmates, Hittorff was described as a "self-made" man. Mentally and physically, he was a worker and fighter they noted. Said to be easy to become acquainted with and impossible to forget -- Joe was everybody's friend. During his tenure in Annapolis, Joe received numerals in varsity soccer and in plebe and varsity lacrosse and, in his first class year, participated in sailing races for the Admiral DuBose trophy.
He received a medal as first class gun pointer in short range battle practice in the 1939 middie cruise. He was a member of the Quarterdeck Society (debating club), Reception Committee, Boat club and the staff of the Lucky Bag year book. In the regimental organization Joe held the ranks of midshipman second petty officer in the first group, midshipman ensign in the second group and midshipman mustering petty officer in the final group (Courier Post, Camden, NJ – Thursday, 02 May 1940 – p.15.)
Hittorff finished the 4 year course at Annapolis with a merit standing of 138 in a graduating class of 456 members per the 1940 Annual Register of the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) and received his commission in the US Navy with the rank of Ensign on 06 Jun 1940. As was the custom in his day, Joe was expected to go to sea for his first duty assignment. So it was that on 01 July 1940, Ensign Hittorff reported on board the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37) for duty in Pearl Harbor. The Oklahoma had been based in Pearl Harbor since Dec 1937. In Feb 1941, she entered the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington for an overhaul. Later that year in Aug, she steamed to San Pedro for additional yard work.
Underway on 22 Aug. she encountered severe weather losing one sailor overboard and three injured. The next morning the crew conducted a damage assessment. A broken propeller shaft was found. Oklahoma was forced to steam to San Francisco the closest navy yard with an adequate drydock. Repaired and underway again, Oklahoma returned to Pearl Harbor in mid-Oct. Joe sent frequent letters home. In one from November 2, 1941, he expressed concern that there were war clouds on the horizon, and he was "expecting the worst -- and hoping for the best." (quote from his obituary published in 2016).
Just moments before the traditional, ceremonial raising of the colors on the Oklahoma's stern on 07 Dec 1941, the bombs started falling from Japanese attack aircraft. Oklahoma was moored outboard and alongside battleship USS Maryland (BB-46). Oklahoma was quickly hit by multiple aerial torpedoes. In less than twelve minutes, she partially rolled over until her superstructure contacted the bottom of the harbor. Ens. Hittorff was trapped below decks along with 19 other officers and 395 enlisted men who were later declared killed or missing.
On 16 Dec 1941, a telegram arrived at the residence of Joseph Hittorff, Sr., and his daughter Marion in Westmont, NJ. Joseph Sr drove to Philadelphia where Marion was working to tell her of the terrible news. It was among the first of 294,000 such telegrams that would be delivered to American families during WWII. It read: "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son Ensign Josepha Parker Hittorff Jr., United States Navy, was lost in action. . . . " "If remains are recovered, "the message added, "they will be interred temporarily in the locality where death occurred, and you will be notified accordingly."
-----------------------------
Ensign Hittorff's family received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:
In grateful memory of JOSEPH PARKER HITTORFF, Jr., who died in the service of his country at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, ATTACHED U.S.S. Oklahoma on 07 December 1941. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
//s// Franklin D. Roosevelt,
President of the United States of America
-------------------------------
During the salvage of the Oklahoma, Joe's academy ring and a ceremonial sword were recovered from the wreckage and returned to his family. However, there was never any word on his remains. The Navy still listed him missing in action or buried at sea. Joseph was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, The American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He is probably eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive to 07 Dec 1941).
In 2008, Marion Hittorff, who never married, learned that her brother's body might have been recovered decades ago, and might lie in a grave marked "unknown" at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii (Punchbowl). Marion donated a DNA sample to help in any identification effort conducted by the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). JPAC is charged with finding missing service personnel.
Marion died less than a year later after providing her DNA sample in 2008. On 07 Mar 2016, Hittorff's remaining family members were notified that his remains had been identified after being disinterred from the Punch Bowl Cemetery in Hawaii. On 10 Jun 2016, JPAC announced that the remains of Joseph P. Hittorff Jr. of Collingswood, NJ had been identified and would be returned for burial with full military honors 18 Jun 2016 in Kent, Connecticut, at the request of the family. Welcome home, Joe!
Regarding the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), see Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual online (SECNAVINST 1650.1H of Aug 22, 2006, chapter 8 - 831 para 3a (3)). It reads, "Personnel aboard a ship are eligible (for the CAR) when the safety of the ship and the crew was endangered by enemy attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air, or sub-surface elements." The eligibility is retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.
------------------------------
Sources:
1) Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY) – 07 Dec 2008, Sun – p.3 [clipped online 10 Sep 2019].
2) Courier-Post (Camden, NJ) – 14 Jun 2016, Tue – p. A9 [clipped online 10 Sep 2019]
3) Naval Academy Lucky Bag Yearbook 1940 (online Ancestry.com. photo clipped 10 Sep 2019)
4) Collingswood High School, Collingswood, NJ Class 1934 yearbook (Online Ancestry.com. photo clipped 10 Sep 2019)
-----------------------------
Bio #431 composed 10 Sep 2019 by Gerry Lawton (G47).
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 257010888
Military Hall of Honor ID#94293
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