Project 888
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Name: Franklin Gilreath McDONALD Jr. Rank / Rating: F2-Fireman Second Class Service #: 387 19 86 DOB: 1928 From: Seattle, WA Parents: Franklin, Sr. and Georgie Gilreath McDonald Went Aboard: Dec 30, 1944 Age When Ship Went Down: 17 Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens - Admin |
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Franklin was born in Port Townsend, Quilcene Co., WA. He was the eldest son of Franklin McDonald, Sr., and Georgie Gildreath McDonald. Note that Georgie gave her maiden name as the middle name to her son.
His siblings were Duke, Ray, Dick, Wally, Lela and Bill McDonald.(1)
His birth date is unknown but the 1940 US Census, WA, shows Franklin in the household of his parents and he is 12 years old. This establishes a birth year of c1928.
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| Franklin served in his local Washington State Guard, Company C., 4th Washington Volunteer Infantry, from April 18, 1944, to October 9, 1944. This records notes he was a “student” and it can only be assumed he was a senior in high school. “In January 1941 the Washington National Guard was mobilized into federal service and the Washington State Guard reestablished to assume responsibility for state military missions. Not long after, however, it was determined by state officials that the increased probability of U.S. entry into WWII carried with it a heightened threat of invasion and the new force would need to be reorganized to defend the state's territory rather than simply fulfill civil assistance missions. Recruiting was suspended and the entirety of the force was organized into the State Guard Reserve, which was simply a roster of individual personnel. In June, soldiers of the State Guard Reserve began to be reconstituted into a formed force with the activation of the Fourth Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment. As of December the regiment was fully trained and equipped and, by early 1942, the size of the State Guard had increased to just over 4,000 soldiers and officers with the force reorganized into two brigades. The State Guard, during this time, was primarily composed of older men, however, in 1944 the state began actively recruiting younger males with the idea that it could provide a potential source of post-war manpower for the returned National Guard.” [Wikipedia - Washington State Guard] Franklin was Honorably Discharged from the WA State Guard on October 9, 1944, with a notation that he was “Entering US Naval forces.” His exact date of enlistment in the US Navy is unknown. He was received at the US Naval Training Center, Farragut, Idaho as a AS (Apprentice Seaman), from the Navy Receiving Station, Seattle, WA on September 6, 1944. This leaves little doubt that Franklin enlisted in the Navy in early September, 1944. There is no explanation for why his name remained on the roll of the WA State Guard until October 9, 1944, after he had enlisted in the US Navy. Perhaps it was a clerical error. While in training in Farragut, Idaho, his rate was advanced to S2c (Seaman 2nd class) on December 8, 1944. Shortly after, he was transferred. On December 15, 1944, Franklin arrived at the Naval receiving station at Shoemaker, CA. Six days later, December 24, 1944, he was transferred to the receiving station at San Diego. On December 26, 1944, Franklin again was transferred to the Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. From there he was transferred to the receiving station at Camp Elliott, San Diego, CA. All of the above transfers were in route to join his assigned ship. Four days later, December 30, 1944, Franklin was received aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 as a F2c. The muster roll of Indy for July 1, 1945, shows his rate continued as F2c. This is the last muster roll available. After only 7 months on board, Franklin was lost at sea when Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk on 30 July, 1945. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of The Missing in the American Manila Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. Burial at Sea Franklin was one of the twenty-eight crew members picked up and identified by USS Helm between Sunday August 5, 1945 to Monday August 6, 1945. It not being possible to bring Franklin aboard for the official Burial at Sea Ceremony he was reverently placed in a sea bag, weighted with two 5" shells and "committed to the deep" by his fellow seamen. Sources: (1) Facebook post by Marianne Bagley on Memorial Day, 2025 (2) 1940 US Census, WA, King Co., Seattle, HH #5815 on First Ave., NW. Enumerated April 6, 1940. Citing Frank G. McDonald, Sr. and family Official USN records and deck logs and muster rolls | |
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