Richard Calvin Wilson (Died Nov . 02, 1943)

WILSON, FOSTER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/23/2008 at 14:08:43

Obit. Files at Poweshiek Co. Iowa Gene. Society

THROWN INTO SEA BY LURCH OF HIS SHIP
Leaves A Wife And A Daughter One Year Old

On Nov. 8 Mrs. Anna Marie Wilson received the telegram which carried the news that her husband, Richard Calvin Wilson, aged 20,of the U.S. Navy, was missing in action.

Three weeks later, Nov. 29, a letter from Richard's commanding officer brought a more detailed account of the tragedy.

According to this letter, the young seaman lost his life at 7:17 p.m. on Nov. 2, when he and two companions were on duty on the torret hawser of his ship. The vessel lurched violently and threw the three boys overboard. One boy grasped the rail as he went over and succeeded in pulling himself to safety, but the other two were drowned. An all night search was made, but lights could not be used and no trace of either boy was found. Another search the following morning proved equally fruitless.

Whether the sudden lurch of the ship was caused by a storm or by enemy action was not stated in the letter perhaps by the latter, since the official report was originally "missing in action."

Richard Wilson was inductd into the Navy in May, only six months ago, and received his boot training at Camp Scott, Farragut, Idaho. Following a 15-day furlough at home, he spent two months in traiing near Oakland, Calif. He was then assigned to the U.S.S. Mustin and had been at sea only eight days when the accident occurred.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wilson of Marshalltown. His widow is the former Anna Marie Foster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Foster of 1837 Sixth Ave., formerly of Newburg. The couple were married in January 1942 and their little daughter, Patricia Anne, is a year old.

Mrs. Foster has been living since her marriage at the home of her parents, but has now gone to live in Marshalltown near her husband's parents.