Name: William Goff RUE
Rank / Rating: MM1-Machinist's Mate First Class
Service #: 650 91 97
DOB: Jan 06, 1921
From: Chester, PA
Parents: David and Clara Rue
Went Aboard: Mar 20, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 24 years, 6 months, 24 days
Spouse: Isabelle "Belle" Gaye Corson Rue
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Carl Fahnestock (Admin)
Date Posted:

Machinist’s Mate First Class William Goff RUE was born on January 6, 1921 to David and Clara Rue. He went aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on March 20, 1943. He was married to the former Isabelle “Belle” Gaye Corson. Prior to his induction in the Navy in August 1943, Bill was employed by the Worth Steel Company. According to a Delaware Journal Newspaper article (see details in photo of article below which addressed the loss of Bill and two of his shipmates) Bill had been wounded in an earlier engagement aboard Indianapolis and had been offered shore duty but he chose to return to duty on board the ship. Bill was one of the 20 men who were injured during the Kamikaze attack of on March 31, 1945, during battle action at Okinawa. Nine of Bill’s shipmates were killed. He was awarded a Purple Heart on Apr 3rd during an on board ceremony held by Admiral Raymond Spruance. Just four months after his decision to return to duty, Bill was Lost at Sea as a result of the tragic sinking of USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945. On the morning of the publishing of the Delaware Journal Newspaper article, word was received by Mr. and Mrs. S. Earl Corson (parents of Bill’s wife Isabelle) that the United States Navy had concluded that William Goff Rue must be considered dead. At the time, Isabelle Rue had been employed and living in San Francisco (obviously near the home port of Indianapolis) and the telegram had been received at her parent’s home back in Delaware. In addition to his wife, Bill was survived by his parents who were then living in Maine, two brothers, James and Davie Rue who were also serving in the Navy in the Pacific Theatre, and a sister, Mrs. Edith Webster of Ogden, PA. During Bill's naval service aboard Indianapolis, he earned the American Theater ribbon and the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with eight battle stars. 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. This was his second Purple Heart