William M Bassett
Yeoman, First Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 4135429
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: California
Died: 18 December 1944, Missing in Action, U.S.S. Monaghan (DD-354) lost in the Philippine Sea - 14.57N, 127.58E
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Son of Lee Emerson Bassett and Florence Jackson. William Meredith Bassett was born at home, (now) 740 Santa Ynez, Stanford University. His father, was professor of English at the University.
1910 U.S. Census: Mayfield, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (9/12 California)
1920 U.S. Census: Stanford, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (10 California)
Stanford University, Stanford, California
1930 U.S. Census: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (20 California, Mariner)
William M Bassett (20 California) is found in the 1930 United States Census of Merchant Seamen in San Francisco, California. He was single and working on the S. S. Ventura.
William Bassett (30, born, 28 July 1909, Stanford University, California) arrived 08 September 1939 at the Port of New York, New York aboard the S.S. Bergensfjord. The ship left from Oslo, Norway on 30 August 1939. His home address was Stanford University, Stanford, California.
William Bassett (30, born, 28 July 1909, Stanford University, California) arrived 14 September 1939 at the Port of New York, New York aboard the S.S. Statendam. The ship left from Southampton, England on 05 September 1939. His home address was Stanford University, Santa Clara County, California.
William, entered the U.S. Navy in 1941.
*******************************************************************************
U.S. World War II Navy Muster Roll
25 Oct 1944: U.S.S. Monaghan DD-354 - Y1c V6 William M Bassett (413-54-29) received 16 October 1944 from R/S, Pearl Harbor, T.H.
After training off California and Hawaii, Monaghan sailed for Ulithi 11 November. There she joined the escort for three fleet oilers bound for a rendezvous 17 December with TF 38, whose planes had been striking central Luzon in support of the Mindoro invasion. The ship was expecting to refuel and probably had reduced its ballast in order to take on fuel. Typhoon "Cobra" hit before the Monaghan was ready to ride it out.
Task Force 38 (TF 38) had been operating about 300 mi (260 nmi; 480 km) east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea conducting air raids against Japanese airfields in the Philippines. The fleet was attempting to refuel its ships, especially the lighter destroyers, which had limited fuel carrying capacity. As the weather worsened it became increasingly difficult to refuel, and the attempts had to be discontinued. Despite warning signs of worsening conditions, the ships of the fleet remained in their stations. Worse, the information given to Halsey about the location and direction of the typhoon was inaccurate. On December 17, Admiral Halsey unwittingly sailed Third Fleet into the heart of the typhoon.
MONAGHAN, with 12 battle stars on her bridge and a veteran of combat from Pearl Harbor to Leyte, lunges to her doom -- the fleet unknowing -- late in that wild and wind-swept morning. She's last heard and dimly seen when the morning is but half spent:
0936 - MONAGHAN to Com. TG 30.8 -- "I am unable to come to the base course. Have tried full speed, but it will not work."
1006 - MONAGHAN to unknown ship -- "You are 1,200 yards off my port quarter. Am dead in water. Sheer off if possible." MONAGHAN to HOBBY -- "Bearing is 225°, 1,400 yards…"
MONAGHAN's 1,500 tons of steel are racked and strained; her starboard whaleboat drinks the sea as the davits dip into the green water. But, there's little intimation of disaster. About eight bells, as the Wagnerian dirge of the typhoon drowns the lesser noises of the laboring ship, the wind pushes MONAGHAN far on her starboard side. She struggles to rise again -- and makes it, but sluggishly. In the after deck house, 40-50 men cling to stanchions and pray silently or aloud. Slowly the ship recovers. But, the lights go out; again the deep roll to starb
Yeoman, First Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 4135429
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: California
Died: 18 December 1944, Missing in Action, U.S.S. Monaghan (DD-354) lost in the Philippine Sea - 14.57N, 127.58E
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Son of Lee Emerson Bassett and Florence Jackson. William Meredith Bassett was born at home, (now) 740 Santa Ynez, Stanford University. His father, was professor of English at the University.
1910 U.S. Census: Mayfield, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (9/12 California)
1920 U.S. Census: Stanford, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (10 California)
Stanford University, Stanford, California
1930 U.S. Census: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (20 California, Mariner)
William M Bassett (20 California) is found in the 1930 United States Census of Merchant Seamen in San Francisco, California. He was single and working on the S. S. Ventura.
William Bassett (30, born, 28 July 1909, Stanford University, California) arrived 08 September 1939 at the Port of New York, New York aboard the S.S. Bergensfjord. The ship left from Oslo, Norway on 30 August 1939. His home address was Stanford University, Stanford, California.
William Bassett (30, born, 28 July 1909, Stanford University, California) arrived 14 September 1939 at the Port of New York, New York aboard the S.S. Statendam. The ship left from Southampton, England on 05 September 1939. His home address was Stanford University, Santa Clara County, California.
William, entered the U.S. Navy in 1941.
*******************************************************************************
U.S. World War II Navy Muster Roll
25 Oct 1944: U.S.S. Monaghan DD-354 - Y1c V6 William M Bassett (413-54-29) received 16 October 1944 from R/S, Pearl Harbor, T.H.
After training off California and Hawaii, Monaghan sailed for Ulithi 11 November. There she joined the escort for three fleet oilers bound for a rendezvous 17 December with TF 38, whose planes had been striking central Luzon in support of the Mindoro invasion. The ship was expecting to refuel and probably had reduced its ballast in order to take on fuel. Typhoon "Cobra" hit before the Monaghan was ready to ride it out.
Task Force 38 (TF 38) had been operating about 300 mi (260 nmi; 480 km) east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea conducting air raids against Japanese airfields in the Philippines. The fleet was attempting to refuel its ships, especially the lighter destroyers, which had limited fuel carrying capacity. As the weather worsened it became increasingly difficult to refuel, and the attempts had to be discontinued. Despite warning signs of worsening conditions, the ships of the fleet remained in their stations. Worse, the information given to Halsey about the location and direction of the typhoon was inaccurate. On December 17, Admiral Halsey unwittingly sailed Third Fleet into the heart of the typhoon.
MONAGHAN, with 12 battle stars on her bridge and a veteran of combat from Pearl Harbor to Leyte, lunges to her doom -- the fleet unknowing -- late in that wild and wind-swept morning. She's last heard and dimly seen when the morning is but half spent:
0936 - MONAGHAN to Com. TG 30.8 -- "I am unable to come to the base course. Have tried full speed, but it will not work."
1006 - MONAGHAN to unknown ship -- "You are 1,200 yards off my port quarter. Am dead in water. Sheer off if possible." MONAGHAN to HOBBY -- "Bearing is 225°, 1,400 yards…"
MONAGHAN's 1,500 tons of steel are racked and strained; her starboard whaleboat drinks the sea as the davits dip into the green water. But, there's little intimation of disaster. About eight bells, as the Wagnerian dirge of the typhoon drowns the lesser noises of the laboring ship, the wind pushes MONAGHAN far on her starboard side. She struggles to rise again -- and makes it, but sluggishly. In the after deck house, 40-50 men cling to stanchions and pray silently or aloud. Slowly the ship recovers. But, the lights go out; again the deep roll to starb
William M Bassett
Yeoman, First Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 4135429
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: California
Died: 18 December 1944, Missing in Action, U.S.S. Monaghan (DD-354) lost in the Philippine Sea - 14.57N, 127.58E
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Son of Lee Emerson Bassett and Florence Jackson. William Meredith Bassett was born at home, (now) 740 Santa Ynez, Stanford University. His father, was professor of English at the University.
1910 U.S. Census: Mayfield, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (9/12 California)
1920 U.S. Census: Stanford, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (10 California)
Stanford University, Stanford, California
1930 U.S. Census: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (20 California, Mariner)
William M Bassett (20 California) is found in the 1930 United States Census of Merchant Seamen in San Francisco, California. He was single and working on the S. S. Ventura.
William Bassett (30, born, 28 July 1909, Stanford University, California) arrived 08 September 1939 at the Port of New York, New York aboard the S.S. Bergensfjord. The ship left from Oslo, Norway on 30 August 1939. His home address was Stanford University, Stanford, California.
William Bassett (30, born, 28 July 1909, Stanford University, California) arrived 14 September 1939 at the Port of New York, New York aboard the S.S. Statendam. The ship left from Southampton, England on 05 September 1939. His home address was Stanford University, Santa Clara County, California.
William, entered the U.S. Navy in 1941.
*******************************************************************************
U.S. World War II Navy Muster Roll
25 Oct 1944: U.S.S. Monaghan DD-354 - Y1c V6 William M Bassett (413-54-29) received 16 October 1944 from R/S, Pearl Harbor, T.H.
After training off California and Hawaii, Monaghan sailed for Ulithi 11 November. There she joined the escort for three fleet oilers bound for a rendezvous 17 December with TF 38, whose planes had been striking central Luzon in support of the Mindoro invasion. The ship was expecting to refuel and probably had reduced its ballast in order to take on fuel. Typhoon "Cobra" hit before the Monaghan was ready to ride it out.
Task Force 38 (TF 38) had been operating about 300 mi (260 nmi; 480 km) east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea conducting air raids against Japanese airfields in the Philippines. The fleet was attempting to refuel its ships, especially the lighter destroyers, which had limited fuel carrying capacity. As the weather worsened it became increasingly difficult to refuel, and the attempts had to be discontinued. Despite warning signs of worsening conditions, the ships of the fleet remained in their stations. Worse, the information given to Halsey about the location and direction of the typhoon was inaccurate. On December 17, Admiral Halsey unwittingly sailed Third Fleet into the heart of the typhoon.
MONAGHAN, with 12 battle stars on her bridge and a veteran of combat from Pearl Harbor to Leyte, lunges to her doom -- the fleet unknowing -- late in that wild and wind-swept morning. She's last heard and dimly seen when the morning is but half spent:
0936 - MONAGHAN to Com. TG 30.8 -- "I am unable to come to the base course. Have tried full speed, but it will not work."
1006 - MONAGHAN to unknown ship -- "You are 1,200 yards off my port quarter. Am dead in water. Sheer off if possible." MONAGHAN to HOBBY -- "Bearing is 225°, 1,400 yards…"
MONAGHAN's 1,500 tons of steel are racked and strained; her starboard whaleboat drinks the sea as the davits dip into the green water. But, there's little intimation of disaster. About eight bells, as the Wagnerian dirge of the typhoon drowns the lesser noises of the laboring ship, the wind pushes MONAGHAN far on her starboard side. She struggles to rise again -- and makes it, but sluggishly. In the after deck house, 40-50 men cling to stanchions and pray silently or aloud. Slowly the ship recovers. But, the lights go out; again the deep roll to starb
Yeoman, First Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 4135429
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: California
Died: 18 December 1944, Missing in Action, U.S.S. Monaghan (DD-354) lost in the Philippine Sea - 14.57N, 127.58E
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Son of Lee Emerson Bassett and Florence Jackson. William Meredith Bassett was born at home, (now) 740 Santa Ynez, Stanford University. His father, was professor of English at the University.
1910 U.S. Census: Mayfield, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (9/12 California)
1920 U.S. Census: Stanford, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (10 California)
Stanford University, Stanford, California
1930 U.S. Census: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California - William M Bassett (20 California, Mariner)
William M Bassett (20 California) is found in the 1930 United States Census of Merchant Seamen in San Francisco, California. He was single and working on the S. S. Ventura.
William Bassett (30, born, 28 July 1909, Stanford University, California) arrived 08 September 1939 at the Port of New York, New York aboard the S.S. Bergensfjord. The ship left from Oslo, Norway on 30 August 1939. His home address was Stanford University, Stanford, California.
William Bassett (30, born, 28 July 1909, Stanford University, California) arrived 14 September 1939 at the Port of New York, New York aboard the S.S. Statendam. The ship left from Southampton, England on 05 September 1939. His home address was Stanford University, Santa Clara County, California.
William, entered the U.S. Navy in 1941.
*******************************************************************************
U.S. World War II Navy Muster Roll
25 Oct 1944: U.S.S. Monaghan DD-354 - Y1c V6 William M Bassett (413-54-29) received 16 October 1944 from R/S, Pearl Harbor, T.H.
After training off California and Hawaii, Monaghan sailed for Ulithi 11 November. There she joined the escort for three fleet oilers bound for a rendezvous 17 December with TF 38, whose planes had been striking central Luzon in support of the Mindoro invasion. The ship was expecting to refuel and probably had reduced its ballast in order to take on fuel. Typhoon "Cobra" hit before the Monaghan was ready to ride it out.
Task Force 38 (TF 38) had been operating about 300 mi (260 nmi; 480 km) east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea conducting air raids against Japanese airfields in the Philippines. The fleet was attempting to refuel its ships, especially the lighter destroyers, which had limited fuel carrying capacity. As the weather worsened it became increasingly difficult to refuel, and the attempts had to be discontinued. Despite warning signs of worsening conditions, the ships of the fleet remained in their stations. Worse, the information given to Halsey about the location and direction of the typhoon was inaccurate. On December 17, Admiral Halsey unwittingly sailed Third Fleet into the heart of the typhoon.
MONAGHAN, with 12 battle stars on her bridge and a veteran of combat from Pearl Harbor to Leyte, lunges to her doom -- the fleet unknowing -- late in that wild and wind-swept morning. She's last heard and dimly seen when the morning is but half spent:
0936 - MONAGHAN to Com. TG 30.8 -- "I am unable to come to the base course. Have tried full speed, but it will not work."
1006 - MONAGHAN to unknown ship -- "You are 1,200 yards off my port quarter. Am dead in water. Sheer off if possible." MONAGHAN to HOBBY -- "Bearing is 225°, 1,400 yards…"
MONAGHAN's 1,500 tons of steel are racked and strained; her starboard whaleboat drinks the sea as the davits dip into the green water. But, there's little intimation of disaster. About eight bells, as the Wagnerian dirge of the typhoon drowns the lesser noises of the laboring ship, the wind pushes MONAGHAN far on her starboard side. She struggles to rise again -- and makes it, but sluggishly. In the after deck house, 40-50 men cling to stanchions and pray silently or aloud. Slowly the ship recovers. But, the lights go out; again the deep roll to starb
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from California.
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