Veterans' Memorial Project

Willis Boomer Hartrick

Champaign, IL

World War II

College: Engineering

Graduation Year: Attended 1940

Service Branch: Navy

Rank: Machinist's Mate, First Class

Date of Birth: 03/31/1918

Date of Death: 07/30/1945

MM1stC Hartrick was Killed in Action in the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis. The Indianapolis delivered the atomic bomb to Tinian Island. On its voyage to the Philippines it was sunk by a Japanese submarine. The ship sank in 12 minutes. 900 of the crew survived the attack but were killed by repeated shark attacks. Only 316 were rescued. MM1stC Hartrick is listed as Missing in Action or Buried at Sea on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart. He also has a memorial grave stone at Rose Lawn Cemetery, Champaign, Illinois.

-taken from Web site above; and University records and news sources

Further information: https://www.abmc.gov https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12289780

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