Project 888
Name: Philip Arthur McGUIRK
Rank / Rating: LT (jg)-Lieutenant (junior grade)Service #: 229536 DOB: Jun 25, 1920 From: Fitchburg, MA Parents: Michael Thomas and Lillian Ellen Gelinas McGuirk Went Aboard: May 6, 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 25 years, 1 months, 5 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
 MCGUIRK, Philip A |
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Philip was born June 25, 1920, Fitchburg, Worcester Co., MA. He had two brothers, Thomas Grant and Alan Bernard and one sister, Elizabeth Ann McGuirk.
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 Thomas graduated from State Teachers College, Fitchburg, MA. He enlisted in the Navy's V-7 program on April 11, 1942 at Boston, MA.
The V-7 program was one of four Reserve officer programs instituted by the USN in February 1942. V-7 was one in which recent college graduates or men about to complete their college training were accepted by the USN as apprentice seamen and sent to one of the seven Reserve Midshipmen's Schools.
He was transferred from DNOP (Director of Naval Officer Procurement) in Boston to the USNR Midshipmen's School, Columbia University, NY, NY. He was received February 22, 1943 as a AS (Apprentice Seaman). He was appointed Midshipman on March 16, 1943 and his service number changed from #705 46 59 to #229536.
After intense naval indoctrination at Columbia, Philip graduated on June 16, 1943 and was commissioned Ensign. He was qualified for service in the deck crew (#53) on board a ship with a specialty in (#92) "Ship and Aircraft Recognition."
Philip went straight from Columbia University, NY, to Ohio State, Columbus, OH, for additional training. After completion in September 1944, he transferred to Pearl Harbor and received training in the Pacific Fleet Schools. The type training he received is unknown.
He returned to the US and to his alma mater - Midshipmen's school at Columbia University, NY, where he served as an instructor for 19 months. During this time, Philip was promoted to Lieutenant (jg).
He was transferred to USS Indianapolis CA-35. He went aboard May 6, 1945.
Philip was on board when Indianapolis departed Mare Island, Vallego, CA on July 16, 1945, on a secret mission to Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands, to deliver components of the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.
The ship departed Tinian and arrived the next day at Guam. The following day, July 28, 1945, she departed Guam en route to Leyte in the central Philippines. Only two days later, Philip was lost at sea, July 30, 1945, when 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.
"A requiem high mass will be celebrated for the late Philip Arthur McGuirk at the request of post office employee Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. in Stephens. Bernard's church", according to a notice in the Fitchburg Sentinel, (Fitchburg, MA), Tue, Oct 30, 1945.
In May 1979, his sister, Betty Von Kamecke of Orlando, FL, applied for a military headstone. It was approved and ordered on Jan 11, 1980. The cenotaph was placed in St. Bernards Cemetery, Fitchburg, MA.
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Fitchburg Sentinel, (Fitchburg, MA) Friday, June 1943, p. 2, citing Service Men's News. The Fitchburg Sentinel, (Fitchburg, MA), Wed, April 19, 1944, p. 6. Citing Thomas McGuirk and wife Lillian E. McGuirk, son Philip A. McGuirk, instructor at Columbia University. Three other children - T. Grant McGuirk, Betty Ann McGuirk and Alan McGuirk. Fitchburg Sentinel, (Fitchburg, MA) Mon, Aug 13, 1945, p. 1. Citing McGuirk Missing at Sea The Fitchburg Sentinel, (Fitchburg, MA) Fri, Sept 28, 1945, p.1 & 6. Citing McGuirk Reported Lost Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, MA) Tue, Oct 30, 1945, p. 2. Citing McGuirk Requiem High Mass USN, Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the US Naval Reserve, July 1, 1944, Gov Printing Office, Washington. [Rank as of June 30, 1944] Citing Philip A. McGuirk, ENS, D-VA, 53 and 92; service #229536. Yearbook Photo, State Teachers College, Fitchburg, MA; The Saxifrage - Class of 1942. Senior photo. Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; MA, p. 29. Citing Philip Arthur McGuirk, Lieutenant, (jg), USNR. Parents Mr and Mrs Thomas McGuirk, 21 Spring St., Fitchburg. Photo from poster "stratasfan" at usmilitariaforum.com, 2016 https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/266484-uss-indianapolis-kia-dog-tag/#comment-2143479 Photo of Dog Tag from poster "bellasilva" at usmilitariaforum.com, 2016. He also has a copy of McGuirk's personnel file showing he went aboard Indy on May 6, 1945. https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/266484-uss-indianapolis-kia-dog-tag/#comment-2143479
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