USS Indianapolis CA-35
Lost At Sea

Name: Fred PARHAM
Rank / Rating: ST2-Steward Second Class
Service #: 640 22 56
DOB: 1924
From: Tunica, MS
Parents: Carnell and Elnora Webster Parham
Went Aboard: Apr 04, 1942
Age When Ship Went Down: 21
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Admin
Date Posted: Jul 30, 2025

According to the 1940 Census, Fred Parham was born in 1924 in Mississippi to parents Carnell (1896-1955) and Elnora Webster Parham (1901-1989). Fred was the eldest of eight children and was the couple’s only son. He was 16 years old at the time of the Census. He had six sisters: Cornelius “Connie” (1928-2002); Mary Lee (1930-2007); Theola (1932-2004); Annie; Margaret; and Julia (1940-2018). From the oldest to the youngest, the sisters ranged in age from 12 to 0 years old at the time of the Census. Another sister, Virginia (1943-2020), was born after the Census.

At the time of the Census record, Fred and his family lived at the E.P. Mangum Estate Plantation in Tunica, Mississippi where his father’s occupation was listed as a farmer. Tunica is located twenty miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. A draft registration card has not been located for Parham. According to muster roll records, Fred enlisted in the Navy on 17 February 1942 in Nashville, Tennessee, and was received on USS Indianapolis (CA-35) from San Francisco on 13 April 1942 as a Mess Attendant Third Class. He received four promotions in the three years he served on Indianapolis. His first promotion was Mess Attendant Second Class on 17 June 1942. He was promoted to Mess Attendant First Class on 1 November 1942. After the Messman Branch was reclassified in February 1943, Fred’s rating was changed from Mess Attendant to Steward’s Mate First Class. On 1 June 1943, he was promoted to Steward Third Class, and on 1 April 1944, he was promoted to Steward Second Class. As one of the longest-tenured members of the Steward’s Branch, Fred was part of Indy’s crew for nine out of her ten engagements for which she was awarded Battle Stars, beginning with the Aleutians Operation: Attu Occupation from May to June 1943. Fred Parham was 21 years of age when the ship was sunk. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carnell Parham, Tunica, Mississippi, were notified of his death.