Project 888
Name: Homer Benton STONE
Rank / Rating: Y1-Yeoman First ClassService #: 238 68 21 DOB: Oct 25, 1920 From: Montrose, PA Parents: Leonard H. and Julia (Arnold) Stone Went Aboard: Aug 23, 1943 Age When Ship Went Down: 24 years, 9 months, 5 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Kenneth Roach |
 STONE, Homer B |
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 Homer Benton Stone, affectionately known as "Pebble" in the Montrose, Pennsylvania area, was born October 25, 1920, the second son of Leonard and Julia.
"Pebble" graduated from Montrose High School in 1938.
He entered the service in Albany, NY on 10 September 1940.
He attended USNTS, Newport, RI.
He was assigned to USS San Francisco (CA-38) on 6 December 1940 located at Navy Yard Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.
He appears on the Muster Roll of the Crew on 31 December 1940. He was advanced to Seaman 2nd Class 16 May 1941. He appears on the Muster Roll of the Crew on 14 December 1941 as Seaman 1st Class. On 8 April 1942, he was transferred to the Fourth Naval District and his rank was listed as Yeoman 3rd Class.
23 August 1943 he was assigned to USS Indianapolis (CA-35), the flagship of Admiral Spruance. Over the course of his service while on board Indianapolis, Homer advanced to Yeoman 2nd Class and then ultimately achieved the rating of Yeoman 1st Class.
While serving on the heavy cruiser, he was in the Aleutians for five months and saw service in seven major sea battles, including Saipan, Tarara, Palau and Okinawa where a Kamikaze attack on March 31, 1945 killed 9 shipmates.
He was lost at sea when the ship was sunk in enroute to the Philippines (Subic Bay) by a Japanese Submarine. The ship was hit by two torpedoes on its voyage to Subic Bay after delivering uranium 225 for the atomic bomb.
1195 men were on board the ship at the time of the sinking on 30 July 1945.
It is believed that approximately 300 men went down with the ship. Of the roughly 895 men who were able to abandon ship, only 316 men ultimately survived. Homer was not a Survivor. In total, 879 men were Lost at Sea.
See below to view a letter that was written to Homer's father. The letter was written by one of Homer's shipboard friends (Survivor Richard Calvin McVay). His letter shares more detail about Homer's passing.
(Note: Single Left Click on the mouse to open this letter. If you find that it is too small to legibly read, then please Single Left Click again on the "enlargement button" in the upper right hand corner of the letter to open and view a larger and more legible version.)
VFW Post#5642 in Montrose, Pennsylvania is named after Homer Benton Stone. A memorial marker is in the Leonard Stone plot at the New Milford Cemetery, New Milford, Pennsylvania.
The family residence was 44 High Street, Montrose, Pennsylvania.
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