Name: Winston Hayden ARNOLD
Rank / Rating: MM3-Machinist's Mate Third Class
Service #: 878 46 01
DOB: Mar 03, 1922
From: Burbank, CA
Parents: Sampson and Mae Crispin Arnold
Went Aboard: Sep 01, 1943
Age When Kamikaze Struck: 23 years, 0 months, 28 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Marilyn Northcutt Henry and Carl Fahnestock
Date Posted:

During the battle at Okinawa, in the early morning of March 31, 1945, Indianapolis was hit by a kamikaze plane. Damages were severe to Indy but fatal to 9 crew members including Winston Hayden Arnold, age 23.

Winston was born March 03, 1922 to Sampson and Mae Crispin Arnold and was 20 years of age when he registered for the draft in his hometown of Burbank, California. Winston enlisted May 21, 1943 at Los Angeles, CA., in the V-6 program-designated as training for "General Service and Specialist Duties" within the USNR. Following basic training, he came aboard USS Indianapolis as a S3c (Seaman 3rd class). On December 31, 1943 he advanced to F3c (Fireman 3rd class) and on January 1, 1944 he advanced further to F2c. He reached the rate of F1c on February 1, 1944. The Indianapolis Muster Roll dated 31 March 1945 listed "Winston Arnold, MM3c, A casualty, Missing on 3/31/45 since 0700, Believed to be Dead". His rating listed as MM3c confirmed Winston's advancement to Machinist Mate 3rd Class. On the day of the attack, a funeral service for one Sailor was held. As the bodies of the other eight were recovered, a service for six was held on April 1, and for two on April 2, 1945. Each service was preformed with full military honors by the ship's chaplain, Father Thomas Conway. After the funeral services, Winston's body was carried from Indianapolis by his shipmates for burial in the US Armed Forces Cemetery located on Zamami Shima, Kerama Retto, off the island of Okinawa. After the war, families were given the opportunity to request that the remains of their loved one be returned to the US for re-interment. Winston Hayden Arnold was re-interred in Glen Haven Memorial Park, Sylmar, Los Angeles Co., CA. Click or tap here to learn more about the kamikaze attack and to access links to each of the nine individual bios of the kamikaze victims.