Missing in Action while conducting combat operations against Imperial Japanese Forces when his ship was sunk by naval gunfire from enemy warships at the Second Battle of the Java Sea during the Netherlands East Indies Campaign. William had previously served aboard the USS West Virginia (BB-48) from Oct. 1936 until Sept. 1941. He served aboard the USS Steward (DD-224) from Sept. 1941 until being transferred to the USS Pillsbury (DD-227) in Feb. 1942. William’s brother Edward was serving aboard the USS Edsall (DD-219) and was killed in action on March 1, 1941 when it was also sunk at the same Second Battle of the Java Sea.
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