Project 888
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Name: Carl Aage-Chor NIELSEN Jr. Rank / Rating: F1-Fireman First Class Service #: 959 11 04 DOB: Sep 01, 1925 From: Racine, WI Parents: Mr and Mrs Carl Aage Chor Nielsen, Sr. Went Aboard: May 07, 1944 Age When Ship Went Down: 19 years, 10 months, 29 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
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Carl Aage Chor Nielsen was born in Racine, Racine Co., WI, to Carl Aage Chor, Sr., and Elsie Andersen Nielsen. His father was born in Denmark in 1897 and became a naturalized US citizen on April 18, 1927. His mother was born in Denmark, also.
On Aug 14, 1926, Carl was baptized at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Racine. Faddere (Godparents) were Mr. and Mrs. Christ Moller. The church was established by Norwegian immigrants and later merged with Scandinavian immigrant churches. The records of the church show pages labeled in Danish language but the entries are written in English.
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| The day after his 18th birthday, Sept 2nd, he registered for the draft in Racine. He was a student at Washington Park high school. The 1940 census records Carl was 14 years old and had completed one year of high school, indicating the 9th grade. He was the only child in the home with his parents. On Jan 31, 1944, Carl enlisted in the USN at Milwaukee, WI. His basic training was received at Great Lakes, IL and was advanced from AS (Apprentice Seaman) to S2c (Seaman 2nd class) on Apr 5th. On the 19th he was transferred to the receiving barracks at Shoemaker, CA Carl's first trip to sea was aboard the transport ship USS Cambria APA-36 from Shoemaker, CA to Pearl Harbor. He arrived on May 7, 1944 and transferred the same day for duty on board USS Indianapolis CA-35. This experience must have been exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Indianapolis departed Pearl Harbor on May 26th to take part in the Mariannas operation. She joined TF 58.2 and bombarded Saipan on June 13 and again on the 30th. The following day, July 1st, Carl advanced from S2c to F3c (Fireman 3rd class). He was now part of the engineering division. Whether he worked there before his advancement or with the deck crew is not known. In his new rate, Carl would see action later in June at the Battle of the Philippine Sea, followed closely by the capture and occupation of Guam. He had been thrown directly into battle and had earned a battle star. But, there was more action to come and no quick end in sight. On July 24th and 25th Indy was present for the capture of Tinian and occupation on Aug 2nd. A battle star was awarded to the ship for her fine participation. On the heels of Tinian came action in the western Caroline Islands when Indy participated in the bombardment of Peleliu from Sept 11th to the 29th. This was battle star number three for Carl. Carl would finally get a break from the action in the Pacific when his ship returned to Mare Island on Oct 29, 1944. Indy would be in port until Jan 3, 1945 for overhaul and repairs. It is possible Carl was granted leave during this time to be with his family during the holidays. The new year would bring triumph and tragedy for Carl. Indianapolis returned to the Pacific and arrived in Feb, 1945 for the raids against Honshu and the Nansei Shoto in the Ryukyu Islands, the Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, and two additional assaults on Honshu and Nansei Shoto. Indy departed Mar 28th with TF 58 for the Okinawa campaign. It was here that she suffered her first casualties when a kamikaze plane scored a hit. Nine of Carl's fellow crewmembers were killed and twenty were injured. He witnessed his first Naval burial service for the much beloved ship's Bugler, Earl P. Procai on March 31st. He would stand on the quarterdeck two more times as services were held for the eight other shipmates who were killed. He would watch as their flag-draped boxes were carried off the ship for burial on a tiny remote Keramo Retto island. Indianapolis returned to Mare Island, Vallejo, CA for repairs, overhaul and refitting. She would be out of service for 74 days. Surely Carl was granted leave during this time. Carl was on board when the ship was ordered to leave Mare Island on July 16, 1945 carrying cargo on a top-secret mission to Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands. With the cargo delivered, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Harbor, Guam, she sailed on July 27 to Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Carl made it off the ship into the water is not known. Carl was entitled to wear the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with one silver star (equal to five bronze stars) representing the battle stars Indy was awarded for five engagements. Also, the WWII Victory medal. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is eligible for the Combat Action ribbon which was approved in 1999 and made retroactive to Dec 7, 1941. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. You are not forgotten, Carl. | |
IL, Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991, Ancestry.com; N 425, citing Nielsen, Sr. WI, Racine, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Baptismal Record, p. 19, 1926, #6. (Ministeribok for Vor Frelsers Danske Evangel Lutherspe) History of the Faith Lutheran Church. Online https://www.faithlutheranchurchvalders.org/about-faith/history.cfm The Journal Times, (Racine, WI), Thurs, June 13, 1940, p. 24; citing Junior High graduating class of Washington high school. 1940 US Census, WI, Racine, Racine, HH #344 Taylor Ave.; citing Carl Nielsen, Sr. family USN Ships, Stations and Other Naval Activities, 1939-1949; Ancestry database USN, USS Indianapolis CA-35 Ship Logs. Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. MT-WY; WI, p. 15; citing Carl Aage Chor NEILSEN, Jr. (misspelling)
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