Project 888
Name: David STIMSON
Rank / Rating: ENS-EnsignService #: 435904 DOB: Jan 10, 1926 From: Spartanburg, SC Parents: Chaplain and Mrs. William Burnham Stimson Went Aboard: Jun 15, 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 19 years, 6 months, 20 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Marilyn Northcutt Henry and Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
 STIMSON, David |
|
Upon receiving official Navy notice that his son David was a “casualty” of the sinking of Indianapolis, Chaplain William Stimson sent duplicate postcards and letters seeking information about his son from the survivors of the sinking. Capt. McVay had provided to Chaplain Stimson the names and addresses of the survivors.
|
|
| The following is the heartbreak letter received by survivor Richard “Dick” Thelen. Spartanburg, SC - February 28, 1946 As a survivor of Indianapolis, I'm sure you won't mind dropping a note to the parents of one of your shipmates that didn't come back. Ensign David Stimson got his commission the end of March after two years of "V-12". That trip was his first tour of sea duty. He served as Junior Turret Officer first on the 1st turret, then on the 3rd. We want so much to hear just a word from you if you by any chance remember him. You know- -the little things and funny things that must go on when a kid is trying to learn a big new job and assume a big responsibility in a hurry. We know he must have made mistakes and blunders, perhaps even seemed bewildered and scared. Perhaps he'd already made a friend or two. We'd like to hear it all, the bad with the good. I, myself (his father) was in the E.T.0.* when he left, and hadn't seen him since October, 1944. You can, I am sure, understand how much I don't know about him and how glad I'll be to hear from you. Cordially yours Chaplain & Mrs. Wm B Stimson 715 South Converse Street Spartanburg, S.C *Chaplain Stimson was serving in the European Theatre of Operations (E.T.O.) in France as a Chaplain during WWII while his son was serving in the Navy in the Pacific Theatre. A news article in the Philadelphia Inquirer listed David as having attended The Episcopal Academy, established in 1870, while his family lived in Philadelphia where his father served in the ministry. An email to The Episcopal Academy by Marilyn Henry reaped undiscovered information - a photo of David Stimson in his military uniform, and his obituary. Lori Harding, Director of Libraries replied to the email: Marilyn, Please see the attached image for the only information we have in our archives on David Stimson. He was a student at Episcopal from 1933 (age 7) until leaving in 1940 (I'm guessing at 14 if it was the end of the school year). Our yearbooks from that time exclusively focus on the senior class . . . no photos of younger grade students. Fortunately, our Assistant Head of School in the 1940s, Willian Ortlepp was committed to keeping records of students and former students who served in WWII which is why I was able to locate some of the information you requested. My understanding is the information contained below his picture was compiled at that time. Perhaps the University of SC will have additional records in its archive. All the best, Lorie Harding Director of Libraries The Episcopal Academy William Ortlepp archived David’s photo and his obituary published in The Philadelphia Inquirer, 29 September 1945, page 5. The obituary states that David Stimson “. . . had been in the service two years.” Using dates and ages provided by the Episcopal Academy, David would have graduated from high school in May or June 1943 at the age of 17. The Navy V-12 officer training program began July 1, 1943 in 131 colleges and universities as short-term training schools for the specific purpose of preparing officers for the US Navy. David attended the University of South Carolina at Columbia from July 1943 until November 1944. David then transferred to Great Lakes Naval Training Station in IL for two weeks of training. From there he attended Midshipman School at Northwestern University, IL, from November 1944 to March 1945 where he was commissioned Ensign. His final training was in Washington in the special heavy turret school. He went aboard Indianapolis, at age 19, on June 15, 1945 as a gunnery officer. He would meet death just 45 days later. STIMSON GENEALOGY The obituary for Ensign David Stimson indicates that he is kin to former Secretary of War Henry Lewis Stimson. Research explains the relationship: April 23, 2024 genealogy research at Ancestry. com revealed the following: William Burnham Stimson was a cousin of Henry Lewis Stimson, former Secretary of War. Their fathers were brothers. Henry Clark Stimson b.1813 NY, d. 1894, New Jersey, married Julia Marie Atterbury. Of their six children, two sons were: Frederick Julian Stimson (1) Lewis Attenbury Stimson (2) (1) William Burnham Stimson was the son of Frederick Julian Stimson b. 21 Jan 1856, New Jersey, d. 31 May 1926, age 70, NY, NY and his first wife Emma Burnham. So, his middle name came from his mother's maiden name. (2) Henry L. Stimson was the son of Lewis Atterbury Stimson. The obituary of Lewis Atterbury Stimson states, "father of Henry L. Stimson former Secretary of War.” David Stimson, son of William Burnham Stimson, was the nephew of Henry Lewis Stimson, former Sec. of War. Sources for Genealogy: The New York Times, NY, Tues., 18 Sept 1917, Vol. LXVII, No. 21,787,page 9. Online at https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-la-stimson-obit/60564544/ citing the obituary of Dr. Lewis Atterbury Stimson. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, KY: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. The Empire State Society application of Henry Lewis Stimson, 1 Oct 1946; National #67852, State #7982. Vol. 340. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/988/henry_lewis-stimson: accessed 4/30/2025), memorial page for Henry Lewis Stimson (21 Sep 1867-20 Oct 1950), Find a Grave Memorial ID 988, citing Memorial Cemetery of Saint John's Church, Laurel Hollow, Nassau County, New York, USA. 1880 US Census, New York City, NY, Dist. 575, page 27/276c. Enumerated 9 June 1880. HH #161 citing Henry Stimson. 1940 US Census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Block #24. Enumerated 13 April 1940. HH #3916 citing William B. Stimson. The New York Times, Friday, 17 July 1908, p. 7. Citing obituary of Julia M. Stimson. Sources of Research for Navy V-12 Program US Navy History website at https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/manning-the-us-navy/v-12-program.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Naval_Reserve_Midshipmen%27s_School | |
| |
|
|
