Project 888
Name: William Ben LEATHERS
Rank / Rating: MM3-Machinist's Mate Third ClassService #: 853 04 38 DOB: Mar 13, 1920 From: East Alton, IL Parents: William F. and Elsie Rampenthal Leathers Went Aboard: Jan 19, 1944 Age When Ship Went Down: 25 years, 4 months, 17 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
 LEATHERS, William B |
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William was born March 13, 1920, in Wood River, IL, the only child of William F. and Elsie Rampenthal Leathers. He graduated from East Alton-Wood River Community High School.
He was a member of the Alton chapter, Order of DeMolay. DeMolay International is a youth leadership organization with Masonic origins for young men ages 12 to 21. It was founded in 1919 and continues in 2025. The purpose of the Order of DeMolay is to develop young men into leaders of character through a program focused on character building, leadership skills, and civic engagement. It aims to shape young men into better citizens, husbands, fathers, friends, and leaders.
William was a past master counselor of the Alton Chapter and was elected as a Chevalier by the Grand Council for outstanding and meritorious work on behalf of the chapter and the Order of DeMolay. Also, he was chosen for the Legion of Honor.
The 1940 census notes William was working as a apprentice machinist at Western Cartridge Co., in East Alton. He was 20 years old.
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| He enlisted in the US Navy on July 1, 1943 at Chicago, IL. On July 12, 1943, he arrived at boot camp at the US Naval Training Station at Farragut, ID. On Sept 28, 1943, he advanced from S2c (Seaman 2nd class) to F3c (Fireman 3rd class) Oct 12, 1943, he was transferred to the US Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL. He is noted on a list of patients in the US Navy Hospital, Great Lakes, on 24 Nov 1943. He was admitted from Service School, Great Lakes. On Dec 1, 1943, he was discharged. The cause of the hospitalization is not known. At service school he advanced to F2c (MM) (Machinist's Mate), then to F1c (MM), but the date is unknown. This unusually quick advancement was likely due to his pre-war work as a apprentice machinist. He received orders for his new assignment and was to report to Shoemaker, CA, where he arrived on Dec 28, 1943. He boarded USS Antiqua AF-17 bound for Pearl Harbor where he would meet his first ship. He went aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35, on Jan 19, 1944, still noted as a F1c (MM). There was little time for William to settle into life on board Indy. She left her berth at 1129 that morning. There was excitement that night when the crew was called to "Fire Quarters". Someone had placed oil soaked rags in the crew's head on the main deck aft and a fire ignited. No damage was done. On Jan 27, 1944, Indianapolis joined Task Force 58.2 sailing to the Marshall Islands to take part in "Operation Flintlock", the assault and occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls. William was about to witness and take part in his first action in the Pacific. Indianapolis departed TF 58.2 to join Task Unit 53.5.2 on Jan 31, 1944. At 0805 General Quarters (GQ) was sounded in preparation for the bombardment of Roi Island. The guns sounded from 0919 to 1056 and resumed at 1306. When GQ was secured, the men had been at their battle stations for nine hours. Indy had fired 710 rounds from her 8" guns and 1,128 rounds of 5" AA ammunition. The bombardment of Roi continued the next day. The operation was a success and Indy anchored off Kwajalein on Feb 4, 1944. The Marshal Islands campaign continued with the assault and occupation of Eniwetok Atoll before ending in early March. One battle star was awarded for this campaign. This was only the beginning of the action William would see. He was present for the assault and occupation of Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai in the Western Carolinas for which Indianapolis was awarded a battle star. Following this action, Indianapolis returned to Pearl Harbor then sailed back to San Francisco where she arrived April 21, 1944. After an overhaul, Indy departed San Francisco May 1, 1944. She crossed the international date line on June 1, 1944, the same day William advanced to MM3c (Machinist's Mate 3rd class). She anchored at Majuro the next day. Beginning June 13, 1944, Indianapolis participated in the assault on the Marianas. This included the capture and occupation of Saipan, Battle of the Philippine Sea and the capture of Guam. For her part in these actions, Indy earned another star. Then came the capture and occupation of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands, adding another battle star. The capture and occupation of the southern Palau Islands, part of the Western Carolina Islands operation, awarded another battle star. Then, Indy entered the action at Iwo Jima on Feb 14 through March 1, 1945, earning a well deserved battle star. Mid-March, Indy took part in the Okinawa Gunto operation and was awarded her last battle star. It was during the operation, March 31, 1945, that Indy sustained damage from a Japanese kamikaze plane resulting in the deaths of nine crewmembers and injuring 20 others. She was taken out of action and returned to Mare Island, Vallejo, CA, for repairs. For the above actions, William received the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with one silver star, representing 5 bronze stars, and two bronze stars representing the seven battle stars he was awarded. While Indianapolis was being repaired and refitted, William was granted leave and returned home from June 20 to July 5, 1945. This was the last time he would ever see his family. He returned to Mare Island, CA to rejoin the crew of Indianapolis before she sailed on July 16, 1945. On July 30, 1945, William was lost at sea after Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-58. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. On May 7, 1946, a class of 49 candidates were given the Order of DeMolay degree by the local Alton (IL), DeMolay Chapter. The class was dedicated as the "W. Ben Leathers' Memorial Class". "Petty Officer Leathers was a past master counselor of Alton Chapter and also was elected as a Chevalier by the Grand Council for outstanding and meritorious work [on] behalf of the chapter and the Order of DeMolay." His parents were present for the ceremony. Also, "a large group of members of Wood and River Lodge No. 1062 A.F. & A.M., of which Petty Officer Leathers was a member, attended the ceremonial as a tribute to him and in appreciation for respect paid to his memory by the officers and advisors of Alton Chapter." Source: 1940 US Census, IL, Madison Co., Wood River Twsp. Enumerated May 3rd. HH # 180 citing William E. Leathers family. USN WWII Muster Rolls, 1938-1949; Ancestry database USN Ships, Stations and Other Naval Activities, 1939-1949; Ancestry database Moore, Katherine D., Goodbye, Indy Maru, self-published (1991); citing War Diaries USN USS Indianapolis CA-35 Final Sailing List, 17 Aug 1945; Ancestry database Alton Evening Telegraph, (IL), Sat, Nov 6, 1943, p. 19; citing Leathers in training Alton Evening Telegraph, (IL), Wed, Aug 15, 1945, p. 5; citing Leathers MIA Alton Evening Telegraph, (IL), Tues, Sept 18, 1945, p. 2; citing Leathers KIA Alton Evening Telegraph, (IL), Tue, May 7, 1946, p. 6; citing DeMolay dedication | |
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