Project 888
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Name: William Arnold HEGGIE Rank / Rating: RDM3-Radarman Third Class Service #: 844 06 58 DOB: Dec 28, 1922 From: Parents: Elizabeth Arnold Heggie Went Aboard: April 17, 1943 Age When Ship Went Down: 22 years, 7 months, 2 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Marilyn Northcutt Henry |
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Lost Sailor's Mother Dies Climbing Hill to Greet Fleet
Still holding faint hope that her son still was alive, Mrs. Elizabeth Arnold Heggie, 60, former Louisvillian, died of a heart attack yesterday while climbing Telegraph Hill in San Francisco to welcome the returning Third Fleet, according to a United Press dispatch.
She was carrying a telegram from the navy informing her that her son, RdM3c William Heggie, 20, was missing in action following the explosion of the cruiser Indianapolis off the Philippines July 30th.
Her purse also contained a bundle of letters from her son. (1)
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 Having completed high school, William Heggie registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, at the age of 19 - the average age of young men on Indianapolis’ final sailing crew. A note on his draft card states that he had a scar in the center of his forehead. As the person who would always know his where-abouts, he listed his mother, Elizabeth, living at 317 Gaines Street, Pulaski, Arkansas. But curiously another name and address is written on a white sticker - Dr. J. W. Hamm, 106 Capitol Avenue - seemingly added later.
He enlisted in the USNR on January 18, 1943 at Little Rock, AK. His basic training was at the Naval Training Station, San Diego, CA where is rate advanced to S2c (Seaman second class) on March 18, 1943.
After basic training William was assigned to USS Indianapolis CA 35 on April 17, 1943. (1). On October 1, 1943 his rate advanced to S1c (Seaman first class).
William advanced to RdM3c (Radarman Third Class (T) on July 1, 1944. (2)
William was killed July 30, 1945, in the tragic sinking of USS Indianapolis. Military records of his death listed his mother Mrs. Elizabeth Arnold Heggie as living at 2311 Laurel Avenue, Oakland, California. (3)
Her devotion to her son seems to have led her to move to California.
After receiving the telegram of her son missing in action, Mrs. Heggie posted this newspaper notice dated September 6, 1945, seemingly before she received the second telegram verifying his death:
“BUDDIES” of William Arnold Heggie, “missing” U.S.S. Indianapolis, get in touch with His mother at once, please 1730 MacArthur Boulevard.” (4)
On October 16, 1945, the Santa Cruz Sentinel also reported the tragic death of Mrs. Elizabeth Arnold Heggie:
At age 60, despite her heart condition, Elizabeth had attempted to walk up San Francisco’s steep Telegraph Hill to watch the return of the Fifth Fleet - explaining she knew her son was not aboard but wanted to pay her respects to the navy boys. Police had seen her walking slowly, resting, and walking slowly again. She collapsed holding a purse containing letters from her son, William, and a wrinkled telegram advising that her son was missing in action. (5)
(1) Louisville Courier-Journal, Wednesday, October 17, 1945, page 13.
(2) USS Indianapolis Report of Changes for July 6, 1944.
(3) Ancestry.com, U.S. World War II Navy, Marines Corps and Coast Guard, 1941-1945, California, Killed in Action.
(4) Oakland Tribune, 06 Sep 1945, page 26, newspapers.com
(5) Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz, California, October 16, 1945, page 5.
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