Project 888
Name: Edward Daniel BATTS
Rank / Rating: STM1-Steward's Mate First ClassService #: 657 09 78 DOB: Dec 20, 1923 From: Wilmington, NC Parents: Went Aboard: Dec 17, 1942 Age When Ship Went Down: 21 years, 7 months, 10 days Spouse: Beatrice Batts Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Jane Gwinn Goodall |
 BATTS, Edward D |
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According to Navy records, the home location or enlistment state for
Edward Daniel Batts was New Hanover County, North Carolina. Its county
seat, Wilmington, is one of the largest cities in the state and has been
designated a World War II Heritage City for its contributions to the shipbuilding industry.
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 Batts enlisted in the Navy on 15 October 1942 in Raleigh, NC. He was
transferred to USS Indianapolis CA-35 on 17 December 1942 from the
receiving station at Pearl Harbor. Edward Batts initially served as Mess
Attendant Second Class. When the Messman Branch was renamed
Stewards Branch in February 1943, his rating was changed to Steward’s
Mate Second Class. Batts was promoted to Steward’s Mate First Class on 1
October 1943 under Captain Einar R. Johnson. In total, Edward served
under four of Indy’s captains, including the final one, Captain Charles
Butler McVay, III.
The photo is courtesy of HonorStates.org, a public access archive that recognizes American Gold Star Veterans who died in service to our country. Batts was a member of Indianapolis’s crew for nine out of the ten Battle Stars that were awarded to Indy. The Battle Stars were given by the U.S. Navy for meritorious service in battle or for having suffered battle damage. Batt’s first battle was the Aleutians Operation where it was of the utmost importance to prevent the Japanese from establishing enemy bases in the U.S. territory of Alaska. Through mid-1943, Indianapolis remained near the Aleutian Islands, escorting American convoys, providing shore bombardments, and supporting amphibious assaults. In May, the Allies had captured Attu, then turned on Kiska Island, thought to be the final Japanese holdout in the Aleutians.
Over the next two years, Batts was part of Indy’s crew when it was engaged in eight additional major battles in the drive across the Pacific Ocean, with Indianapolis’s involvement ending with the Battle of Okinawa. On 31 March 1945, the ship was severely damaged by a kamikaze attack that killed nine of his shipmates and sent Indianapolis limping back to Mare Island for repairs.
A draft card for Edward Daniel Batts was not found. Assuming he was between 18 to 20 years old when he enlisted in 1942, Batts is believed to have been born between 1922-1924, making him 21 to 23 years of age when Indy sank, and he perished.
Edward was married to Beatrice Batts from Wilmington, North Carolina. She was listed as his next of kin in the United States World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945. To date, no other family information has been located.
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 | Edward Daniel BATTS, STM1-Steward's Mate First Class, was one of 28 African-American men who were members of the Steward Branch, the only division on the ship in which there was not a single survivor. The restricted duties of the Steward Branch were to serve the officers of the ship, including the admiral's and captain's wardrooms, dining areas and sleeping quarters. The services were essential to the smooth and efficient running of Indianapolis. Many of Indianapolis's African-American crew members voluntarily performed duties as gunners' mates, assigned to a specific battle station as one complete unit. More details about the valuable service of these men can be found by reading the book: 'Heroes in the Shadows: The Untold Story of the African American Sailors Aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35)', by Jane Gwinn Goodall, with contributions from Janice Alston and Arlene Taylor (Henry Jackson, StM1), Jeanette Pitts, M.D. (Albert Rice, StM1), and Jacqueline Dugan and Ernestine Peete (Magellan Williams, StM1). |
