WILLIAMS, Machinist's Mate 2/C Lester Lee "Buster BEAN", WWI

BEAN, WILLIAMS, MOUTRAY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/11/2013 at 23:03:17

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, June 16, 1942, Page 1

Mason City Man Missing in Action

Mrs. Beatrice WILLIAMS, 33 Twentieth street southeast, was informed by the navy department Tuesday morning that her husband, Lester Lee "Buster" WILLIAMS, machinist's mate second class, is reported missing in action.

WILLIAMS, serving his third enlistment period in the navy, was stationed on the Neosho, a 2,500 ton tanker lost in the Coral Sea battle. He first enlisted in 1935 and re-enlisted in 1937 and 1942.

WILLIAMS was graduated from Clear Lake high school in 1930. His aunt, Mrs. Ada BEAN, lives at 715 North Second street in Clear Lake.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Friday, May 28, 1943, Page 5

CLEAR LAKE MEMORIAL SERVICES

A Moment of Contemplation

. . . Lester Lee WILLIAMS, machinist's mate second class, who made his home for many years with his aunt, Mrs. Ada BEAN, 715 North Second street, was reported missing in action June 14, 1942, following the battle of the Coral sea. He was in the third period of enlistment. . . .

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, June 17, 1943, Page 22

"BUSTER" WILLIAMS SANK WITH HIS SHIP in CORAL SEA FIGHT

Letter From Secretary Knox of Navy Says He Was Missing Over Year

Lester Lee "Buster" WILLIAMS, machinist's mate second class, reported "missing in action" a year ago, is dead, according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Beatrice WILLIAMS, 33 Twentieth street southeast, from Frank Knox, secretary of the navy.

WILLIAMS is survived by a brother, Harold WILLIAMS of Lincoln, Nebr., and a sister, Mrs. Pearl MOUTRAY, Sugar Grove, Ill. His parents died some years ago and since he was 3-years-old WILLIAMS had made his home with his aunt, Mrs. Ada BEAN of Clear Lake.

He was graduated from the Clear Lake high school in 1930. He joined the navy in 1933, re-enlisted in 1937 and re-enlisted again in January, 1942.

Following is the communication from Secretary Knox:

"After a full review of all available information, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that your husband, Lester Lee WILLIAMS, Machinist's Mate second class, USN, is deceased, having been reported 'missing in action' on the 7th day of May, 1942, being a member of the crew and serving aboard the U. S. S. Neosho, when that vessel was sunk as a result of enemy action in the Coral sea.

"In accordance with Section 5 of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, as amended, your husband's death is presumed to have occurred on the 8th day of May, 1943, which is the day following the day of expiration of an absence of twelve months.

"I extend to you my sincere sympathy in your great loss and hope you may find comfort in the knowledge that your husband gave his life for his country, upholding the highest traditions of the navy. The navy shares in your sense of bereavement and will feel the loss of his service.

"Sincerely yours,
Frank Knox."

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, February 16, 1944, Page 4

1st MEMORIAL BOND IS BOUGHT

Mrs. A Bean Heads List of Contributors

Clear Lake - The Soldier's Memorial fund, sponsored by the Clear Lake American Legion Auxiliary, got under way Tuesday through the purcahse of a $1,000 war bond by the chairman and secretary, Msses. A. B. PHILLIPS and Karl F. HASS, respectively. The goal is $100 for every name on the Clear Lake honor roll. Small contributions will be grouped into a single bond of large denomination and the donars named in the record.

First in Clear Lake to buy a bond for a specific serviceman was Mrs. Ada BEAN, 715 N. 2nd street, whose nephew, Lester Lee WILLIAMS, better known in Clear Lake as "Buster" BEAN, lost his life in the Coral Sea battle May 7, 1942. WILLIAMS, serving his 3rd enlistment period in the navy was aboard the Neosho, a 2,500 ton tanker, which was sunk. He was a machinist's mate 2/c. WILLIAMS had lived with Mrs. BEAN from the time he was 3 years old until he enlisted the first time in 1935. He was graduated from Clear Lake high school in 1930.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, May 18, 1944, Page 11

EASTERN STARS FETE MOTHERS

Relatives of Service Men Given Courtesy

Clear Lake - Mothers, mothers-in-law and a grandmother of men in service were honored guests of Park chapter No. 35, O. E. S., at the regular session at Masonic Temple Wednesday evening. Mrs. Ada BEAN, whose nephew, Lester Lee WILLIAMS, known in Clear Lake as "Buster" BEAN, was included in the group. Lester was on the tanker Neosho and reported missing in action after the Coral Sea battle May 7, 1942.

The courtesy was arranged by Mmes. YEAGER and Ralph BEPLOGE.

Bowls and baskets of flowers in the national colors, flags and napkins in a patriotic design were used on the tables. The honorees were seated at a special table.

NOTE: USS Neosho (AO-23), a tanker, survived the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. During this time, there were very few tankers in the U.S. fleet, so she was considered to be a vital ship. Just prior to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, the Neosho had almost completed unloading her cargo of aviation fuel into the tanks located ashore. Taking advantage of a slight lull during the attack, she was able to dodge bombs and torpedos as she left Pearl Harbor and headed for the safety of Oahu. She was the only ship that was on "Battleship Row" that did not sustain any damage.

In May of 1942, Neosho sailed to the Coral Sea, located near Australia, with a mission of providing fuel to the Pacific Fleet gathered there. Completing her mission, she along with her escort, the destroyer USS SIMS (DD-409), were spotted by a fleet of 62 Japanese planes on May 7 1942. Both the Sims and the Neosho fell under attack and sank. The Simms lost 237 men. The crew of the Neosho, which had been hit by seven bombs and one Japanese suicide plane, abandoned ship. The following morning, the surviving crew aboard rafts, came back to the ship. Of the 295 crew aboard the Neosho 158 men were missing and 20 were confirmed dead.

Although the Neosho was listing horribly and had been severely damaged, she did not sink, kept afloat by her almost empty tanks. A scout plane found her on May 10th and the following day, May 11th, the destroyer USS Henley (DD-391) rescued her suviving crew. She was a stubborn ship, however. It took two torpedoes and 146 shells before she surrendered herself to the sea.

According to a websit listing the Neosho's crew and their fate, MM 2/C Lester Lee WILLIAMS died on the 68-man raft after abandoning ship May 7th.

SOURCES: history.navy.mil/docs/wwii/pearl/ph58.htm; delsjourney.com/uss_neosho/neosho_home.htm; delsjourney.com/uss_neosho/coral_sea/neosho_at_coral_sea/survivors_and_casualties.htm; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Neosho_(AO-23)

Transcriptions and note by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2013

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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