Project 888
Name: Chris Alstrum JENSEN
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second ClassService #: 860 18 53 DOB: Dec 05, 1906 From: Ute, Iowa Parents: Jacob Jensen and Catherine (Anderson) Jensen Went Aboard: May 7, 1944 Age When Ship Went Down: 38 years, 7 months, 25 days Spouse: Rachel Olive (Newman) Jensen Children: Annabel J., Clifford C., Dorothy Maxine, Rosemary C., Elizaeth Elvira Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Admin |
 JENSEN, Chris A |
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Seaman Second Class Jensen, fifth of six children, was born December 5, 1906 in Ute, Iowa to Jacob Jensen and Catherine Anderson both from Denmark.
According to the 1930 US Census Chris had graduated from high school and was living in rural Woodbury County, Iowa with his wife Rachel Olive Newman Jensen. (1)
Chris and Rachel had married on February 21, 1929 at Ute, Iowa. Witnesses were Harry Newman and Mrs. Harry Newman. (2)
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 According to the 1930 US Census, Chris was working as a farm laborer on the Spring Valley Ranch Southwest of Mapleton, Iowa. The 1940 Census shows Chris was 33 years old living with Rachel, age 29, and their children: daughter Annabel J. Jensen, age 13; son Clifford C. Jensen, age 11; daughter Dorothy Maxine Jensen, age 9; daughter Rosemary C. Jensen, age 7; and daughter Elizaeth Elvira Jensen, age 5. His wife’s sister, Jone E. Newman was living with the family. (1)
Chris registered for the draft on October 16, 1940 at Des Moines, Iowa. (3) He was 33 years old and most like hoping the war would pass him by at his age.
On February 26, 1944, at age 37, he reported to USNTC (United States Naval Training Center), Great Lakes, Illinois as a Apprentice Seaman (AS). He complete basic training as a S2/c and was transferred April 30, 1944 to the receiving station at Pearl Harbor, T.H. with further transfer to USS Indianapolis CA-35. He reported aboard Indianapolis on May 7, 1944. (4)
Chris came home to his family in April 1945 while Indianapolis was docked at Mare Island for repairs from a kamikaze attack. His visit was cut short when all crewmembers were ordered to return to the ship for an unnamed special mission. When Chris was leaving, he told his wife he would not return home to see his children.
His life ended on board Indianapolis when she was torpedoed and sunk July 30, 1945. Chris had been on Indianapolis for 16 months. As were all crew, he was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously.
Chris is memorialized with a headstone in Mount Hope Cemetery in Mapleton, Monona County, Iowa. His headstone is incised also with the name of a daughter, Honda Mae (1934-1934). (5)
In 1949, Rachel was approved for a $500 WWII widow’s benefit. (6)
Burial at Sea
Chris was one of the twenty-eight crew members picked up and identified by USS Helm between Sunday August 5, 1945 to Monday August 6, 1945.
It not being possible to bring Chris aboard for the official Burial at Sea Ceremony he was placed in a sea bag, weighted with two 5" shells and "committed to the deep" by his fellow seamen.
Sources:
1. 1920 & 1930 US Census, Iowa
2. Iowa Department of Public Health; Des Moines, Iowa; Iowa Marriage Records, 1923-1937; Record Type: Marriage; page 397
3. USN Draft Card, as shown on this page
4. Official USN ship and training Reports of Changes and Deck Logs
5. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202790451/chris_a-jensen: accessed May 18, 2025), memorial page for Chris A. Jensen (1906-1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 202790451, citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Mapleton, Monona County, Iowa, USA
6. Iowa, US, WWII Bonus Case files for Beneficiaries, 1947-1959 for Chris Alstrum Jensen Claim number 306324
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