Project 888
Name: Kenneth Irwin STOUT
Rank / Rating: LCDR-Lieutenant CommanderService #: 100490 DOB: Oct 26, 1912 From: Los Angeles, CA Parents: Desmond Sherman and Marguerite Elizabeth Elder Stout Went Aboard: Jan 30, 1941 Age When Ship Went Down: 32 years, 9 months, 4 days Spouse: Lorraine Mildred Vaughn Stout Children: Harold David Stout Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
 STOUT, Kenneth I |
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Kenneth was the second son born to Desmond Sherman Stout, born Van Buren, Iowa (1876-1932) and Marguerite Elizabeth Elder. Desmond was working for the Southern-Pacific railroad as a brakeman when he registered for the WWI draft in 1918 at age 42. He died on 30 July 1932 in San Bernardino, CA
It is unlikely, due to his age, that Desmond Stout served during WWI. However, it is apparent that he instilled deep seated patriotism and ambition in his three sons.
Kenneth's brother, Desmond Wallace Stout, served in the US Navy from 1944 to 1958 and was commissioned LT. Commander. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific. He died in 1968 and was buried in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CA.
Kenneth's younger brother, Harold W. "Hal" Stout served in the US Navy and rose to the rank of Ensign. He served in the fleet for four years before earning his wings as a Navy pilot from Corpus Christi Air Station in TX. He completed operational training at Deland, FL
Ardeth Lucile Stout was Kenneth's only sister.
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| An article published in April 1930 in Kenneth's hometown newspaper stated he had completed recruit training at the naval training station in San Diego, CA and was home on 10 days leave visiting his parents in San Bernardino. "He enlisted in the USN on Jan 21, 1930 at the San Bernardino recruiting office and passed the examination for entrance to the navy radio school. He will be sent to this school upon his return to San Diego and later may take the examination to enter the naval academy at Annapolis." A second news article was published in June 1931 stating Kenneth was home on furlough from USS Lea.(2). Lea DD-118 was a Wickes-class destroyer. The history of the ship states only that she "served primarily along the west coast during the years between the wars." [DANFS] In September 1935, Kenneth married Lorraine Mildred Vaughn in San Bernardino, CA. He was 22 years old and Lorraine was 18. They had a son, Harold David Stout, born in 1937. A photo of the happy couple is below. No pre-WWII ship records are available to this researcher so the details of his first seven years of service are unknown except for the above references. The first record found for Kenneth is the muster roll of the crew of USS Lamson DD-367, a Mahan-class destroyer. He went aboard on Nov 2, 1938 as a RM1c. His enlistment date is recorded as Oct 26, 1935 at San Pedro, CA. This enlistment date is most certainly the date he reenlisted in the USN. Lamson was in service in the Pacific until arriving back at San Diego, CA, three months before Kenneth reported for duty. While he was on board, Lamson remained in the US performing exercises and tactical training operations. On Sept 12, 1939, while Lamson was in port in San Diego, CA, Kenneth "executed an agreement to extend current enlistment for 3 years." This would be his second reenlistment. There is little doubt that Kenneth intended to make the Navy his career. Three days later he was transferred to USS Pyro AE-1, for further transport to the Naval Research Laboratory, Bellevue, Washington, DC, for "course instruction." Kenneth had 10 days to enjoy himself before he actually boarded Pyro. His parents were now living in San Bernardino, CA so, hopefully, he returned home for a short visit. He was received on board Pyro AE-1, Sept 25, 1939 at San Diego for his journey to the east coast. It was a long trip and he did not arrive at Norfolk, VA until Oct 17, 1939. From the receiving station at Norfolk Navy Yard he was forwarded to Washington, DC. He had only three days to reach his final destination. On Oct 20, 1939 he was received at the Naval Research Laboratory: Radio Materiel School and Electrical Interior Communications School located at Bellevue. “During the war, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) scientific activities necessarily were concentrated almost entirely on applied research. New electronics equipment - radio, radar, sonar - was developed” according to the history of the laboratory. Kenneth would spend eight months learning the latest in radio communications and repair which would further his advancement in the Navy. His name appears on the muster roll of the school for the quarter ending March 31, 1940. Also, his name appears on the 1940 US Census in Washington, DC. The census was enumerated on the 6th of April. Kenneth was living in an apartment at 809 Portland Street, with his wife and son. He was 27 years old, born CA and current occupation was Radioman 1st class, US Navy. His home in 1935 was in Honolulu, HI. His highest level of education was 11th grade. His wife, Lorraine M., was 23 years old, born, IL. Her home in 1935 was San Bernardino, CA. Their son, David H., was 3 years old, born in DC. David's birth place of DC is an apparent error. It is assumed Kenneth completed his training by June 20, 1940. On June 21st he was transferred from Washington, DC, back to San Diego. He sailed the same route that had brought him to Washington. The long journey included passage through the Panama Canal and on to San Diego where he arrived on July 2, 1940. But, this was not his final destination. Another long voyage was ahead. Kenneth had about two weeks in San Diego before boarding USS Cuyama AO-3, a fuel ship that carried 144 regular crew members. She made frequent trips from the west coast to Pearl Harbor on transport duty. His new assignment was waiting in the harbor - USS Minneapolis CA-36, a New Orleans-class heavy cruiser. The ship carried a complement of 708 crew members and officers and dwarfed the destroyer on which he had previously served. He went aboard Minneapolis on Aug 10, 1940, as a RM1c. The history of Minneapolis shows she was stationed at Pearl Harbor when Kenneth went aboard. Two days later the ship sailed to "sea." While on board, he was transferred to USS Relief on 11 Nov, 1940 for medical treatment where he remained until arriving back to Minneapolis on the 26th of Nov. The cause of the hospitalization is not recorded. After five years in the Navy, the reward for his loyal service, advanced training and performance came on board Minneapolis Jan 14, 1941 when he was appointed Warrant Officer - Radio Electrician. Warrant officers were known for their technical expertise and were relied upon for their specialized knowledge. Kenneth would provide leadership, training, and guidance to both enlisted personnel and commissioned officers in radio communication and repair. Kenneth was transferred from USS Minneapolis to USS Indianapolis CA-35 where he went aboard on Jan 30, 1941. He would serve on board Indy for the next four and a half years. On board Indy, Kenneth would continue his rise in the officer ranks. Ship records of the officers are not available online, so the following information was taken from the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the USN. The register was published yearly on July 1 showing the rank for the previous year. Therefore, the exact dates of Kenneth's promotions are not known. On July 1, 1942, Kenneth's rank is listed as Warrant Officer, Radio Electrician. Before July 1, 1943 he was promoted to Lt. Commander. This seems to have been a temporary or acting promotion. 1 July 1944 his rank was Lt. 1 July 1945 his rank was Lt. Commander An article written Nov 21, 1944, in his hometown paper, shows photos of Kenneth and his two brothers and praises each man for their rise through the Navy ranks. Kenneth is noted with the rank of Lt. Commander. Also, when the article was written, Kenneth was home on a 30-day leave. He had been at sea since the attack on Pearl Harbor, in the US Navy for 14 years and participated in 11 major battles. The furlough mentioned in the above article corresponds with Indy's return from the Pacific to Mare Island, CA about Oct 10 where she underwent an overhaul following two years of long hard service. Her last engagement had been the capture and occupation of the southern Palau Islands in Sept 1944. Eight of the 11 battles Kenneth had taken part in were while he was on board Indianapolis and occurred from Feb 1942 to Sept 1944. Where and when he earned the three additional battle stars is unknown. Also, it is unknown if 11 battle stars was an accurate statement in the news article. After Indy's repairs at Mare Island, Kenneth was aboard when she returned to the Pacific. He was present for the operations at Iwo Jima and Okinawa Gunto which added two additional battle stars to his credit. The final news article to appear in his local paper was on Aug 17, 1945, reporting his death in the sinking of USS Indianapolis. He had been home on furlough just six weeks prior while his ship was in dry dock at Mare Island, CA. He saw his parents, wife and nine year old son for the last time. Kenneth had served 15 years in the Navy. He began as a Apprentice Seaman and rose to a Lt. Commander. He went aboard Indianapolis before the attack on Pearl Harbor and was the second longest serving man on board the ship. He survived the initial torpedo hits to his beloved ship. Minutes later, he was seen by Lt. Commander Lewis Haynes when they met in the passageway outside the officer's staterooms, both dazed and trying to understand what had just happened. The passageway began filling with smoke and extreme heat. Another explosion occurred and Kenneth yelled at Haynes, "Look out, Lew!" and Haynes put his already badly burned hands over his face. A tremendous flash of flames shot through the passageway and Kenneth was killed instantly. A Naval Patriot was lost July 30, 1945. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. Source: Navy Dept., Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History Division; Dictionary of American Naval Fight Ships [DANFS], USS Lea DD-118, Vol IV, p. 75. Roloff, O. S., US Naval Institute, One Hundred and Eighty Years of Naval Recruiting; Proceedings, Dec 1956, Vol 82/12/646 https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1956/december/one-hundred-and-eighty-years-naval-recruiting The San Bernardino County Sun, (CA), Fri, April 11, 1930, p. 8; citing recruit training The San Bernardino County Sun, (CA), Fri, June 26, 1931, p. 15; citing Naval Radio Man on Furlough in City The San Bernardino County Sun, (CA), Sun, Sept 8, 1935, p. 17; citing marriage license of Stout-Vaughn Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps; July 1, 1943, NAV PERS 15,018, US Printing Office, Washington. And July 1, 1945; NAV PERS 15,018 US, WWI Draft Cards, CA, Roseville Co.; order #2766; citing Desmond Sherman Stout, wife Margurite E. Stout The San Bernardino County Sun, (CA), Tues, Nov 21, 1944, p. 6; citing 3 Stout brothers in USN The San Bernardino County Sun, Fri, Aug 17, 1945, p. 9; citing Kenneth Stout MIA Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; CA, p. 86 citing Kenneth Irwin Stout, Lt. Commander; wife Lorraine Mildred Stout of San Bernardino. Stanton, Doug. In Harm's Way; Henry Holt and Co., N.Y., 2022; p. 125 The San Bernardino County Sun, (CA), Tue, Oct 29, 1946, p. 13; citing Marguerite Stout, Gold Star Mother | |
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