Project 888

USS Indianapolis CA-35

Lost At Sea

Robert Carter PEYTON

Name: Robert Carter PEYTON Rank / Rating: STM1-Steward Service #: 836 35 03 DOB: Mar 22, 1924 From: King George County, VA Parents: Silas Golden Peyton and Alberta Hodge Peyton Went Aboard: May 05, 1943 Age When Ship Went Down: 21 years, 4 months, 8 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Jane Gwinn Goodall	Photo(s) Needed
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Robert Carter Peyton was born on 22 March 1924 in King George, Virginia to parents Silas Golden Peyton (a farm laborer) and Alberta Hodge Peyton. A combination of the 1930 and 1940 Census records shows that Robert was the fifth of ten children born to Alberta Peyton. The information was confirmed on the family tree information on Ancestry.com for his mother Alberta Hodge. Robert had four older brothers: James (1908); Andrew (1911); Isaac (1918); and John Wesley (1922-1985); and three younger brothers George Irving (1926-1990); Harrison (1929); and Charles Edward (1931-1993). He had an older sister, Frances (1918), and a younger sister, Elois Alberta (1937). Father, Silas, died in May 1937.
His mother was listed as head of household in the 1940 U.S. Census, and a five-year-old grandson, Gustine also lived in the home. She remarried in June 1940 to William Lee Pratt. Robert Carter Peyton listed his mother Alberta Prett (Pratt) as his next of kin when he joined the Navy. Robert Carter Peyton was living in Washington, DC when he signed his draft card at age 18 on 30 June 1942. Before enlisting, he worked as a laborer at Root Rock Company. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 5 March 1943 and reported to USS Indianapolis (CA-35) from San Francisco as Steward’s Mate Second Class on 5 May 1943. His Steward’s Branch shipmate Almire Pittman, Jr. from Arkansas boarded Indy the same day. Just five months later, Robert Peyton was promoted to Steward’s Mate First Class on 1 October 1943. He participated in 9 out of the 10 battles for which Indianapolis was awarded Battle Stars. Peyton was 21 years old when USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was sunk. His mother, Alberta Prett (sic) was notified of his death. Her last known residence was Osso, Virginia.

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Robert Carter PEYTON, STM1-Steward, was one of 28 African-American men who were members of the Steward Branch, the only division on the ship in which there was not a single survivor. The restricted duties of the Steward Branch were to serve the officers of the ship, including the admiral's and captain's wardrooms, dining areas and sleeping quarters. The services were essential to the smooth and efficient running of Indianapolis. Many of Indianapolis's African-American crew members voluntarily performed duties as gunners' mates, assigned to a specific battle station as one complete unit. More details about the valuable service of these men can be found by reading the book: 'Heroes in the Shadows: The Untold Story of the African American Sailors Aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35)', by Jane Gwinn Goodall, with contributions from Janice Alston and Arlene Taylor (Henry Jackson, StM1), Jeanette Pitts, M.D. (Albert Rice, StM1), and Jacqueline Dugan and Ernestine Peete (Magellan Williams, StM1).