Name: Willard James COPELAND
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second Class
Service #: 314 83 86
DOB: Mar 22, 1927
From: Detroit, MI
Parents:
Went Aboard: Jun 23, 1945
Age When Ship Went Down: 18 years, 4 months, 8 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Carl Fahnestock (Admin)
Date Posted:

As of May 18, 2025, the website administrator had only received the submission of a copy of the front and back of a Draft Registration Card for Willard James Copeland. Referencing this information, the administrator made logical assumptions to build and create a reasonable bio story for LAS Copeland. (If bio information is submitted in the future to either support or contradict the current bio, the Administrator will consider the rewriting, rewording or enhancement of LAS Copeland’s bio.)

BIO - Willard James Copeland: Willard James Copeland signed a draft card and registered on March 22, 1944. Given the Date of Birth that he entered on the card (March 22, 1926), the registration official confirmed the registration with the official seal/stamp on the back of the draft card. The registration official made the assumption that Copeland was age 18. (Note: Given the active status of WWII as of March 22, 1944, it was very common that young (and patriotic) men were registering for the draft on the very day of their 18th birthday.) However, it was apparently discovered on or about April 13, 1944 (22 days after Copeland’s draft registration) that Copeland’s correct birthdate was March 22, 1927 which would have made Copeland only 17 years of age. As a result, his Draft Registration Card was apparently cancelled on April 13, 1944 (see handwritten notice on the front of the draft card). Being only 17 years of age, Copeland at that point in time would have had two alternative ways of entering the United States Navy: 1. He could have had his parents co-sign for his enlistment as a 17 year old man. 2. He could wait until March 22, 1945 and enlist on his own. While diligent research has not as yet identified which of these two alternatives he may have chosen; it is reasonable to assume that either one would have placed Copeland available to muster aboard USS Indianapolis on his recorded “Went Aboard” date of June 23, 1945. Essentially, if he chose Alternative 2 above and re-registered for the draft on his “real” 18th birthday (March 22, 1927), he would still have had time to complete Boot Camp and join the ship’s company 3 months after his 18th birthday. Nevertheless, Seaman Second Class Willard James Copeland of Van Dyke, Michigan (suburb of Detroit) did serve on board USS Indianapolis (CA-35) and was indeed one of the heroes who was Lost At Sea as a result of the ship’s sinking on July 30, 1945. MICHIGAN MEMORIAL PLAQUE See photographs (posted below) to view a copy of a memorial plaque that was dedicated circa 1946 to honor seventy-two (72) State of Michigan men who served on USS Indianapolis CA-35 and who were Lost At Sea. Willard James COPELAND's name is listed on the plaque! Per the caption on one of the photos, the plaque was originally planned in 1946 for display at a proposed Detroit Civic Center. The plaque was initially displayed at the Detroit Naval Post VFW #233. However, the plaque had vanished for decades, fueling rumors of theft, being melted for scrap, or hidden away in a private basement. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jeff Ortiz (nephew of LAS Y3 Orlando Ortiz) and Joni Deaver (cousin of LAS sailor S2c Charles Roof Jr.), this priceless piece of history has been re-discovered in the Detroit Historical Society storage basement in Michigan. One of the photos shows Jeff Ortiz and Ralph McNabb (nephew of LAS F2 Thomas McNabb, Jr) standing behind the very dusty plaque as it was found.