Percy, who resided in Odessa, Delaware, served as a Seaman First Class on the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413), U.S. Navy during World War II.

He enlisted in the Navy on January 20, 1944 and after training was assigned to the Samuel B. Roberts on April 28, 1944.

The Roberts, in early October, proceeded to Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands of the Southwest Pacific and then joined Task Unit 77.4.3, nicknamed "Taffy 3".

From there she steamed to the Leyte Gulf area off the eastern Philippines. On arrival, she commenced operations with the Northern Air Support Group off the Island of Samar.

Shortly after dawn on October 25, 1944, Samuel B. Roberts was protecting Taffy 3's escort carriers whose aircraft were supporting the Army assault.

The warships were steaming off the eastern coast of Samar when the Japanese Center Force, a 23-ship task force under the command of Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita, appeared on the horizon and opened fire. At 07:35, the Roberts turned and headed toward the heavy cruiser Chōkai.

The Roberts steamed to within 2.5 nmi (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) of Chōkai, coming under fire from the cruiser's forward 8 in (203 mm) guns.

Roberts had moved so close that the enemy guns could not depress enough to hit her and when in torpedo range, Roberts launched three Mark 15 torpedoes, with one blowing off Chōkai's stern.

The Roberts fought with the Japanese ships for a further hour, firing more than six hundred 5 in (127 mm) shells, and while maneuvering at very close range, hitting Chōkai's superstructure with her 40 mm and 20 mm anti-aircraft guns.

The Japanese landed two hits on the Roberts, the second of which damaged the aft 5 in (127 mm) gun. This damaged gun suffered a breech explosion shortly thereafter which killed and wounded several crew members.

With her remaining 5 in (127 mm) gun, Roberts set the bridge of the heavy cruiser Chikuma on fire and destroyed the Number Three gun turret.

The Roberts was then hit by three 14 in (356 mm) shells from the battleship Kongō, which tore a hole 40 ft (12 m) long and 10 ft (3 m) wide in the port side of her aft engine room.

At 09:35, the order was given to abandon ship. The Roberts sank 30 minutes later, with 90 of the crew dying. The 120 survivors of the crew clung to three life rafts for 50 hours before being rescued.

Percy was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking of the Roberts in the Philippine Sea during the war.

He had served in the Navy for nine months at the time of his death and was decorated with a Purple Heart.

Percy was the only soldier or sailor from Odessa, New Castle County, Delaware to die during World War II.

Service # 9064263

Son of Percy Thomas Wallace and Caroline Muehlberger Wallace.

Percy also has a " Cenotaph " in the Old Drawyers Church Cemetery, Odessa, Delaware.
( See links below for that record )

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )