Project 888
Name: Magellan WILLIAMS
Rank / Rating: STM1-Steward's Mate First ClassService #: 847 82 00 DOB: Jan 06, 1924 From: Downsville, LA Parents: Walter L. and Pinkie Goins Williams Went Aboard: Apr 27, 1944 Age When Ship Went Down: 21 years, 6 months, 24 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Jane Gwinn Goodall |
 WILLIAMS, Magellan |
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Born on 6 January 1924, Magellan was the fifth of eight children born to Walter L. and Pinkie Goins Williams. Two of his siblings, Oliver and Booker T., died within two days of each other before Magellan was born.
Growing up, he had two brothers (Philip and Foster), one older sister (Eunice), and two younger sisters Hellen and Fairest.
Magellan’s father worked in farming where they lived in Downsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. Affectionately referred to as "Brown" by family members, Magellan is remembered by his surviving family members as a funny guy who was always telling jokes.
Before joining the Navy, he cut down trees from their farm and sold the lumber to a paper mill.
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 Magellan Williams was 18 years old when he registered for the draft on 30 June 1942. At age 20, Magellan enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Shreveport, Louisiana on 10 February 1944.
After training, he was received aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35) on 27 April 1944 as Steward’s Mate Second Class.
He came on the ship at the same time as fellow shipmate Vasco Harper who was also from Louisiana. Magellan’s promotion to Steward’s Mate First Class was recorded on 1 October 1944. He participated in five of Indy’s ten major battles, beginning with the Marianas Operation, Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Indy’s capture of Guam in the summer of 1944.
Williams was 21 years old when he died in the torpedo attack on 30 July 1945. The notification of his death was sent to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Williams in Downsville.
News of his death was published in The Gazette in nearby Farmerville, Louisiana, one year after the sinking on 16 July 1946 after the Navy Department had released the World War II cumulative casualty lists by state.
Like many families of those lost at sea, Magellan’s parents and siblings did not talk about what happened to Magellan. They would only say that he served in the Navy and died in the war.
Members of the next generation of his family attended the USS Indianapolis Survivors Reunion in 2001 to learn more about the ship and their uncle.
To honor their "Uncle Brown," his nieces Ernestine Peete and Jacqueline Dugan were instrumental in working to bring his story and that of the other African-American crew members to life.
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 | Magellan WILLIAMS, STM1-Steward's Mate First Class, was one of 28 African-American men who were members of the Steward Branch, the only division on the ship in which there was not a single survivor. The restricted duties of the Steward Branch were to serve the officers of the ship, including the admiral's and captain's wardrooms, dining areas and sleeping quarters. The services were essential to the smooth and efficient running of Indianapolis. Many of Indianapolis's African-American crew members voluntarily performed duties as gunners' mates, assigned to a specific battle station as one complete unit. More details about the valuable service of these men can be found by reading the book: 'Heroes in the Shadows: The Untold Story of the African American Sailors Aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35)', by Jane Gwinn Goodall, with contributions from Janice Alston and Arlene Taylor (Henry Jackson, StM1), Jeanette Pitts, M.D. (Albert Rice, StM1), and Jacqueline Dugan and Ernestine Peete (Magellan Williams, StM1). |
