Richard Charles Gries was born near Thunderhawk community, Corson Co., SD or in Lemmon, Perkins Co., SD. Both communities were in close proximity and both listed in the records.
Richard was the son of Charles Albert, born in Iowa, and Selma (Thelma) Minnie Schrader Gries, born in Stower, North Dakota.
In 1928 the family removed to Grant Center, Monona Co., Iowa where they appear on the 1930 census. The 1940 census lists Richard, age 17, as the oldest of five children. His siblings were brothers Norman, William, Clifford and sister, Lavina Lucell, the youngest.
Source Credits1930 US Census, IA, Monona Co., Grant, Dist. 0011; HH # 64
1940 US Census, IA, Monona Co., Grant, Dist. 67-12; HH #103
Iowa State Dept of Health, Standard Certificate of Birth, Register 60, 867-265; citing Lavina Lucell Gries, naming parents and place of birth.
State of Iowa, Clerk of District Court, Monona County, Marriage Record Return; citing marriage of Richard Gries and Pearl Martz
State of Iowa, Department of Health, Div of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Birth for Charles Richard Gries 9/18/42. [State Historical Society of Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Title: Iowa Birth Records, 1888-1904]
An Album of Memories by Tom Brokaw, 2001, p. 216
Iowa, WWII Bonus Case Files for Beneficiaries, 1947-1959; Box 680, 308901-308919; citing case # 308913 Pearl Louise Gries Heck for son Charles Richard Gries. Father, Richard Charles Gries, born Lemmon, South Dakota.
Sioux City Journal, (IA), Jan 7, 199, p. 26; citing the death of Richard's father, Charles A. Gries
Rank / Rating: F2-Fireman Second Class
Richard married Pearl Louise Martz on March 5, 1942 in Onawa, IA. Pearl gave birth to a son, Charles Richard Gries, on Sept 18, 1942.
He registered for the WWII draft at age 19 on June 30, 1942 in Monona Co., IA. He listed his father as the person who would always know his address.
Richard enlisted in the USN in Kansas City, MO. He arrived at Great Lakes, IL, Naval Training Center on Feb 21, 1945. On April 12th he was advanced to F2c (Fireman 2nd class), then transferred to Shoemaker, CA on the 28th. He arrived at Shoemaker on May 2, 1945 and was transferred to USS Indianapolis CA-35 where he went aboard on May 12, 1945.
Richard left behind his wife and 18 month old son when he lost his life in the sinking of Indianapolis on July 30, 1945. Pearl wrote a letter to Capt. McVay seeking information about the sinking and death of her husband. It seems she was clinging to hope that her husband had survived.
After Richard’s death, his family moved to Sioux City, Iowa where his father worked for the railroad. Sixteen months after Richard’s death a memorial service was held on Oct 1, 1946 in the Christian church in Ticonic, IA
Richard's father, Charles Albert Gries, lived to be 97. His obituary revealed that Richard's mother had died in 1990. The obituary listed 17 grandchildren. Richard missed meeting his siblings’ 17 children - his 17 nieces and nephews whom he would have loved. They would have called him Uncle Richard.
Kenneth Earl Mitchell, Indianapolis survivor, wrote a letter to his former shipmate and survivor, Ray Hornbuckle, that was published in "An Album Of Memories" by Tom Brokaw. Mitchell listed the names of those he personally knew made it off the ship and later died in the water. He included the name Richard Gries.
In 1949, Richard's wife, Pearl, made application to the State of Iowa, WWII Service Compensation Board for benefits in support of their minor son, Charles Richard Gries. Pearl had remarried in 1947 to a Mr. Heck and was living in Grant Center, Monona, Iowa.
Note: A typed copy of the South Dakota marriage certificate of Charles A. Gries and Selma Schrader incorrectly notes the groom's name as John A. Gries. Charles A. Gries' father was John Gries.
ABBOTT, George Stanley 
FRONTINO, Vincent Fred 
AMICK, Homer Irwin