Celebrating Memorial Day by Remembering Ralph Huntington Hepworth

Utah Military Records, 1861-1970 via Ancestry.com 

     Next Monday is Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day.   This day originated after the Civil American War to ommemorate the fallen Union Soldiers of the Civil War.

By the twentieth century Memorial Day was extended to   honor all Americans who have died in all wars.

         This Memorial Day I am going to honor a cousin of Dad's,

Ralph Huntington Hepworth

He was lost at sea on 24 July 1945.

I found the above record very recently on Ancestry.com.  A record that was not available last year when I researched Ralph.   If I were searching for Ralph Hepworth for the first time, this record would yield some great information (but not perfect.)  

I will transcribe the information;

Ser. # 278412  Still MISSING  11-30-46     KILLED 

HEPWORTH, RALPH HUNTINGTON, Lt.  j.g.            NAVY

Born; April 30, 1921 (or 22) Salt Lake City (In Ut. 6 Yrs)

Father:  Charles Vern Hepworth  DECEASED (4-30-47)

Mother:  Mable Ann Duffy Hepworth,  1424 Harrison Ave. SLC  DECEASED

Single

Address:  Albion, Idaho

Aunt:  Mrs. Royal Daw, 464 E. 2nd So. 

       Enlisted:  5-1-42 Seattle, Wash.

*Awarded 4 bronze stars, purple heart - 1945

WOUNDED July 25 1945 OFF OKINAWA  (Let. 2-9-48)

MISSING IN ACTION SINCE A FLIGHT JULY 24, 1945 OFF COAST OF OKINAWA (Trib. 8-19-45)

ALONG WEST COAST OF KOREA (Let. 11-30-46)  Reported: 10-6-45

KILLED. BELIEVED SHOT DOWN ON SHIPPING PATROL MISSION FROM BASE AT OKINAWA. 

(LET. 6-24-47)   Reported 11-15-17)

This record verifies:

A full name - birth and place

Father and Mother's full name and they are deceased.

A relative's name and address.

And he enlisted on the very day I was born!

Wonderful information.

Pictures of Ralph and more information will be posted through the week. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Renee