Project 888
Name: Joseph Harry AULL
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second ClassService #: 864 03 30 DOB: Apr 23, 1925 From: Knottsville, Daviess Co., KY Parents: Michael Xaxier and Mary Pauline Aull Went Aboard: Oct 08, 1943 Age When Ship Went Down: 20 years, 3 months, 7 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens - Admin |
 AULL, Joseph H |
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Joseph Harold “Harry” Aull was the son of Michael Xaxier and Mary Pauline Aull of Knottsville, Daviess Co., KY. He was the second oldest of 12 children.
Joseph registered for the draft, as required, on his 18th birthday in his hometown of Owensboro, Daviess, KY. He was employed by the Ames Corp in Owensboro, but the type work he did is not known.
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 Joseph enlisted in the Navy July 3, 1943, at Indianapolis, IN. While at boot camp in Great Lakes, IL., he was advanced from AS (Apprentice Seaman) to S2c (Seaman second class). He was transferred to the Naval Personnel Distribution Center, Pleasanton, CA on September 23, 1943. As a passenger, he boarded a ship bound for Pearl Harbor where he would meet-up with his assigned ship. He arrived at Pearl on September 29, 1943 and reported to the receiving station.
On October 8, 1943, Joseph walked the gangway and was granted permission to come aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35. He would have only one month to settle into his new duties and meet his shipmates before heading into battle action.
Indianapolis departed Pearl Harbor on Nov 10, 1943 steaming to the Gilbert Islands for "Operation Galvanic." The action continued on and off over the next 16 months. Joseph was on board for the following engagements:
Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls and Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, all in the Marshall Islands.
Raids of Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai in the Western Carolinas Islands.
Capture and Occupation of Saipan, Battle of the Philippine, Capture and Occupation of Guam, and the Capture and Occupation of Tinian all in the Marianas Islands.
Capture and Occupation ofSouthern Palau Islands in the Western Carolines.
Iwo Jima Operation that included Raids on Honshu and the Nansei Shoto in the Ryukyu Islands.
Assault and Occupation of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands.
Raids in support of and Assault and Occupation of Okinawa Gunto.
Since boarding, Joseph had been awarded 8 stars to place on his Asiatic-Pacific ribbon representing the 8th battle star awarded to Indianapolis while he was on board.
Back at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, Joseph and his shipmates prepared for a top-secret delivery to the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. No one on board knew the contents of their cargo when they departed on July 16, 1945.
After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, sailed for Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, on July 30, 1945, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Joseph made it off the ship and into the water is not known. He was only 20 years old.
His name is inscribed on the Tablet of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously.
A memorial mass of Requiem was celebrated on September 24, 1945 at St. William’s Church in Knottsville, KY.
A beautiful bronze cenotaph was placed in St. William Cemetery, Knottsville, Daviess Co., KY.
Joseph, you are not forgotten.
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The Messenger-Inquirer, (Owensboro, KY) Sun, Oct 14, 1945, p. 1. Citing KIA The Messenger-Inquirer, Thur, Sept 27, 1945, p. 11 Official USN Records; Indianapolis ship records FindAGrave: citing St. William Cemetery
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