"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious." (George Washington)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
UNITED STATES NAVY
U.S.S. WASP
CORPORAL
1939 - 1945 STAR
WAR MEDAL 1939 - 1945
Killed In Action
For the first five months of the war, the USS Wasp continued patrolling and made a pair of tension-laced but successful ferrying runs between Great Britain and Malta, delivering badly-needed Spitfires to the RAF. In May, following the news of American carrier losses in the Pacific, Wasp was ordered back to the United States, and then to San Diego. She set out for the Solomon Islands in July. Morris West was promoted to corporal, and may have left his position with the guns. He was appointed Corporal of the Guard; with more that two thousand sailors, flyers, and Marines aboard the Wasp, there was almost always someone in the ship's brig. On September 15, 1942, PFC William T. Ellison was standing guard over the ship's brig. The crew was at general quarters; most of the Marines were at duty stations on the flight deck and the sailors – save the one cooling his heels behind bars – were in a state of casual readiness as the ship recovered several of her fighters and bombers from a morning patrol. At around 1430, half of the Marines were allowed to stand down for a brief rest and chance to wash up. When the word came down, Corporal West headed below decks to relieve Ellison. Ellison, having spent several hours standing sternly in the heat below decks, could almost taste his first off-duty cigarette, and hurried topside. Ellison had barely reached the deck when the world lurched and exploded around him. A torpedo had struck the carrier just below the brig, killing dozens of Americans instantly. Among the dead were the hapless prisoner, who never had a chance, and Corporal of the Guard Morris West.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
UNITED STATES NAVY
U.S.S. WASP
CORPORAL
1939 - 1945 STAR
WAR MEDAL 1939 - 1945
Killed In Action
For the first five months of the war, the USS Wasp continued patrolling and made a pair of tension-laced but successful ferrying runs between Great Britain and Malta, delivering badly-needed Spitfires to the RAF. In May, following the news of American carrier losses in the Pacific, Wasp was ordered back to the United States, and then to San Diego. She set out for the Solomon Islands in July. Morris West was promoted to corporal, and may have left his position with the guns. He was appointed Corporal of the Guard; with more that two thousand sailors, flyers, and Marines aboard the Wasp, there was almost always someone in the ship's brig. On September 15, 1942, PFC William T. Ellison was standing guard over the ship's brig. The crew was at general quarters; most of the Marines were at duty stations on the flight deck and the sailors – save the one cooling his heels behind bars – were in a state of casual readiness as the ship recovered several of her fighters and bombers from a morning patrol. At around 1430, half of the Marines were allowed to stand down for a brief rest and chance to wash up. When the word came down, Corporal West headed below decks to relieve Ellison. Ellison, having spent several hours standing sternly in the heat below decks, could almost taste his first off-duty cigarette, and hurried topside. Ellison had barely reached the deck when the world lurched and exploded around him. A torpedo had struck the carrier just below the brig, killing dozens of Americans instantly. Among the dead were the hapless prisoner, who never had a chance, and Corporal of the Guard Morris West.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious." (George Washington)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
UNITED STATES NAVY
U.S.S. WASP
CORPORAL
1939 - 1945 STAR
WAR MEDAL 1939 - 1945
Killed In Action
For the first five months of the war, the USS Wasp continued patrolling and made a pair of tension-laced but successful ferrying runs between Great Britain and Malta, delivering badly-needed Spitfires to the RAF. In May, following the news of American carrier losses in the Pacific, Wasp was ordered back to the United States, and then to San Diego. She set out for the Solomon Islands in July. Morris West was promoted to corporal, and may have left his position with the guns. He was appointed Corporal of the Guard; with more that two thousand sailors, flyers, and Marines aboard the Wasp, there was almost always someone in the ship's brig. On September 15, 1942, PFC William T. Ellison was standing guard over the ship's brig. The crew was at general quarters; most of the Marines were at duty stations on the flight deck and the sailors – save the one cooling his heels behind bars – were in a state of casual readiness as the ship recovered several of her fighters and bombers from a morning patrol. At around 1430, half of the Marines were allowed to stand down for a brief rest and chance to wash up. When the word came down, Corporal West headed below decks to relieve Ellison. Ellison, having spent several hours standing sternly in the heat below decks, could almost taste his first off-duty cigarette, and hurried topside. Ellison had barely reached the deck when the world lurched and exploded around him. A torpedo had struck the carrier just below the brig, killing dozens of Americans instantly. Among the dead were the hapless prisoner, who never had a chance, and Corporal of the Guard Morris West.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
UNITED STATES NAVY
U.S.S. WASP
CORPORAL
1939 - 1945 STAR
WAR MEDAL 1939 - 1945
Killed In Action
For the first five months of the war, the USS Wasp continued patrolling and made a pair of tension-laced but successful ferrying runs between Great Britain and Malta, delivering badly-needed Spitfires to the RAF. In May, following the news of American carrier losses in the Pacific, Wasp was ordered back to the United States, and then to San Diego. She set out for the Solomon Islands in July. Morris West was promoted to corporal, and may have left his position with the guns. He was appointed Corporal of the Guard; with more that two thousand sailors, flyers, and Marines aboard the Wasp, there was almost always someone in the ship's brig. On September 15, 1942, PFC William T. Ellison was standing guard over the ship's brig. The crew was at general quarters; most of the Marines were at duty stations on the flight deck and the sailors – save the one cooling his heels behind bars – were in a state of casual readiness as the ship recovered several of her fighters and bombers from a morning patrol. At around 1430, half of the Marines were allowed to stand down for a brief rest and chance to wash up. When the word came down, Corporal West headed below decks to relieve Ellison. Ellison, having spent several hours standing sternly in the heat below decks, could almost taste his first off-duty cigarette, and hurried topside. Ellison had barely reached the deck when the world lurched and exploded around him. A torpedo had struck the carrier just below the brig, killing dozens of Americans instantly. Among the dead were the hapless prisoner, who never had a chance, and Corporal of the Guard Morris West.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Georgia.
