Project 888
Name: Roger Glenn TRUE
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second ClassService #: 874 27 53 DOB: Feb 04, 1926 From: Novinger, MO Parents: Sam Edgar and Velma I. True Went Aboard: Jun 01, 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 19 years, 5 months, 26 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
 TRUE, Roger G |
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Roger was born Feb 4, 1926 in Crowell, Foard Co., TX.
He was the son of Sam Edgar and Velma Roe True. Roger's siblings were two brothers, Edgar, Weldon and four sisters, Mary Jo, Bertha, Martha and Keturah. Edgar served three years in the USMC in WWII and returned home safely.
The family removed from TX to Novinger, Adair Co., MO, between 1928 and 1932 based upon the births of their children recorded on the 1940 census. On October 11, 1935, the local newspaper announced that Roger was welcomed at Connelsville school two weeks earlier as "a new pupil at the school." Connelsville was an unincorporated community of 100 or more people near the township of Ninewah in Adair County. Where Roger attended school the year before is unknown.
He registered for the draft on his 18th birthday - Feb 4, 1944. He was still living in Novinger and working for an individual on a farm.
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| Roger enlisted in the USN on April 26, 1944 at St. Louis, MO. He arrived at the Naval Training Center, Farragut, ID, as a AS (Apprentice Seaman) on May 1, 1944 for basic training. On June 17th he was advanced to S2c (Seaman second class), V-6S. The "S" in V-6S indicated Roger would have additional training in a Navy Speciality, rather than in general duties. After completing basic training, he was transferred July 6, 1944 to Shoemaker, CA. He arrived at Shoemaker on July 8, 1944. On July 27th he was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA, and arrived the next day at Headquarters Squadron, Fleet Air Wing Eight (FAW-8). He would train in SOSU-3 (Scout Observation Service Unit #3). The first SOSU was established in Jan 1943. The unit was the result of the merging of the Service Force Aviation Repair Unit and Advanced Cruiser Aircraft Training Unit, established in 1941 and 1942 respectively. SOSU-3 was the third of three units established by the Navy. One of the missions of a SOSU was "to maintain battleship and cruiser aircraft." After eight months of training, Roger was transferred on May 18, 1945 for temporary duty with SOSU-3 in the maintenance of SC-1 aircraft and "when directed by CFAL, to USS Indianapolis CA-35 for duty in aviation unit" per the report of changes of Headquarters Squadron, FAW-8. Roger was received aboard Indianapolis on Jun 1, 1945 as a S2c assigned to the aviation unit. Roger would use his skills learned at SOSU-3 to assist in the general maintenance and repair of the two Curtiss SC-1 Seahawks carried on board at that time. When Roger went aboard, Indianapolis was in dry dock at Mare Island, CA for extensive repairs of damage from a kamikaze attack at Okinawa on March 31st. He was granted an 18-day leave, but when he arrived home there was a telegram waiting with an order to return to the ship immediately. Roger was on board when Indianapolis left port on July 16, 1945 for a top-secret delivery to the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. No one on board knew the contents of their cargo, so in addition to being a mystery mission it was Roger's first time at sea. He could never have imagined it would be his last. After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Harbor, Guam, she sailed on to Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, on July 30, 1945 Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Roger made it off the ship and into the water is not known. Roger served only 60 days aboard Indianapolis. He was six months shy of his 20th birthday. 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. You are not forgotten, Roger. Sources: TX, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1926, p. 1410; citing birth of Roger Glenn True. 1940 US Census, MO, Adair Co., Ninewah Twsp., Connelsville. Enumerated April 24th. HH #26; citing family of Samuel E. True Adair County Herald and East Sullivan Journal, (Novinger, MO), Fri, Oct 11, 1935; The Herald-Journal Greencastle Page; Vol. XXI, No. 41, p. 8; citing new student Roger Kirksville Daily Express and Kirksville Daily News, (MO), Sun, Aug 19, 1945, p. 1; citing Roger True MIA The Kirksville Graphic, (MO), Fri, May 3, 1946, p. 1; citing award of Purple Heart Grossnick, Roy A. US Naval Aviation 1910-1995, 4th ed.; Part 5, WWII, 1940-1945; Naval Historical Center, Dept of the Navy, Washington.; citing SOSU. Online at History.Navy.mil USN WWII Muster Rolls, 1938-1949; Ancestry database USN Ships, Stations and Other Naval Activities, 1939-1949; Ancestry database Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; MO, p. 25; citing parents of Roger Glenn True. | |
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