Name: Robert Earl COUNTRYMAN
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second Class
Service #: 301 37 30
DOB: 1928
From: Belvidere, Illinois
Parents: Delbert LeRoy and Hazel Countryman
Went Aboard: May 12, 1945
Age When Ship Went Down: 17
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Admin
Date Posted:

Seaman Second Class Countryman of Belvidere, Illinois was born in 1928. He was 17 years old when he was lost at sea. He went aboard USS Indianapolis on May 12, 1945. Robert Countryman, enlisted together with Seaman Allen Murphy also of Belvidere, Illinois. Both men were lost when USS Indianapolis sank. Their friend Marine Private First Class Robert Wych, also perished with them. All three boys had been childhood friends. What follows is information that was published on August 14, 1945, about all three men and their friendship.

Murphy, Countryman and Wych killed on Indy July 30, 1945

Republican-Northwestern Newspaper Belvidere, Illinois Tuesday, August 14, 1945, p 6 3 BELVIDERE MEN REPORTED MISSING; ALL ON NAVY SHIPS

Headline: For the first time since war started reports received same day of three local casualties - Robert Wych, Allen Murphy and Robert Countryman, all serving on naval ships in Pacific area near Japan, are reported as missing. Families still have hopes boys may turn up alive. For the first time in the history of the present war, reports of three possible casualties have been received in Belvidere on the same day. All three of the local youths reported as missing were serving on Navy ships "somewhere" in the Pacific and are believed to have been near Japan where suicide planes have played havoc with some of our naval units. (Note: The newspaper did not know the boys were all on INDIANAPOLIS) The first news account is about two boys who have been pals since school days. The second account is about Pfc. Robert Wych, one of the five sons of a Garden Prairie mother. Wych was also serving on a ship in his marine service. Two Boyhood Playmates Allen Murphy and Robert Countryman, both 17, were reported today as missing in action since July 30 in the Pacific war theater. The boyhood playmates who went to school together and ran with the same gang, enlisted in the navy the same day, were on the same ship and were missing on the same day. The information came today in navy department telegrams to their mothers, Mrs. Ethel Murphy of 1121 Union Avenue and Mrs. Hazel Countryman, who lives one and a half miles south of Rainbow Corner. The boys had gone to sea duty immediately after completing boot training which started with their enlistment in February soon after their 17th birthdays. One Of 10 Children Allen Murphy, the oldest son of the ten children of Mrs. Ethel Murphy, was once a Daily Republican carrier boy. He had also worked for the Elco Tool Company in Rockford and was a pinsetter for NorBar. His father, Lemuel Murphy, who was a mechanic and machinist, in Rockford, died Dec. 17, 1943. Robert Countryman was also born and reared in Belvidere. The Daily Republican was unable to contact his mother, who lives in a farm home east of Belvidere on the town line road. Countryman was formerly employed by O. H. Wright & Co. but it happens is not related to Roy Countryman, who also was formerly with that coal and lumber firm. The type of ship on which the boys are serving was not learned and the relatives were cautioned not to name the ships. Should the ship have met disaster, it was probably a victim of a typhoon or attack by a Japanese suicide plane since the date they became missing was only two weeks ago. Robert Wych Missing PFC Robert A. Wych , one of the five sons of Mrs. Norine M. Wych, of Garden Prairie, in the armed forces is reported missing. Mrs. Wych received a telegram today from Gen. A. A. Vandegrift, commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps, advising her that "PFC Robert A. Wych, USMCR, is missing in action in the performance of his duty and service of his country." Mrs. Wych and the friends of the family are hoping that Robert's case may turn out as happily as did the report about another son, Corp. Russell Wych, who turned up missing. Subsequently Russell was alive and in good health. Russell, who has been at home on a 60-day furlough, was at the family home when the sad message came today and was busy this afternoon getting ready to leave for Fort Sam Houston, Tex., to report for duty. PFC Robert Wych enlisted in the marines in January 1944. The youngest son of the family, Richard, was taken into the army in June of this year. Notes: The first telegram received by parents stated their son was 'missing in action’ asking parents to not identify the ship so as not to aid the enemy. The newspaper writers had to image the circumstances of the deaths of these three friends - all died together aboard USS Indianapolis, July 30, 1945, when it was sunk.