Name: Roy Lee HOPPER
Rank / Rating: AM1- Aviation Metalsmith First Class
Service #: 626 21 97
DOB: Jan 29, 1914
From: Decatur, IN
Parents:
Went Aboard: Jun 02, 1945
Age When Ship Went Down: 31 years, 6 months, 1 days
Spouse: Dora Hopper
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Date Posted:

Roy enlisted in the US Navy at Indianapolis, IN, Feb 3, 1942. On Feb 18, 1942 he reported to Great Lakes, IL, for basic training and was a AS V-6 (Apprentice Seaman) upon completion. He attended the Naval Training School, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL. On June 3, 1942 his rate advanced from AS to F3c (Fireman 3rd class). Roy continued his training in Chicago and was advanced from F3c to AM3c (Aviation Metalsmith 3rd class) on Oct 9, 1942. On Oct 24, 1942, he was transferred to Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA., where he arrived on Oct 28, 1942. This would be his new assignment for the next two years. On July 1, 1943, he advanced to AM2c. Exactly one year later, on July 1, 1944, he advanced to AM1c(T). His long assignment at Alameda ended when he was transferred Dec 8, 1944, to CASU-6 for "duty in exchange." The exact reference to this phrase is unknown but generally meant that the person agreed to an assignment in exchange for something else, for example a furlough. Roy arrived Dec 9, 1944 at CASU-6 (Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 6) located at Alameda, CA. His stay there was only three weeks which may indicate there was a special need for his skills or to serve as a replacement until a position was filled. On Dec 29, 1944, he was assigned to NTS, NATTC (Naval Air Technical Training Center), Memphis, TN "for 4 wks. T.D. under instruction in Line Maint. of SC-1." An old brochure from this center showed there was a "Line Maintenance" program but no details were provided. From Memphis, TN on Feb 5, 1945, he was transferred to CFA, Alameda for further forwarding. He was transferred to Scout Observation Service Unit Three (SOSU 3). This was a maintenance and repair unit stationed at Alameda for ships serving in the Pacific. Roy reported for his last assignment on board USS Indianapolis CA-35 on June 2, 1945, in the Aviation division as a AM1c (Aviation Metalsmith 1st class), the rating he had worked so long and hard to obtain. He was 31 years old. Indianapolis was still in dry dock when he arrived so it is likely he was granted a furlough. Roy returned to the ship before she sailed from Mare Island, CA., on July 16, 1945 on a secret mission to Tinian, in the Mariana Islands, where she would deliver components of the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima. His life came to an end just eight weeks after he walked the gangway to board the ship. On July 30, 1945 Indianapolis was sunk by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58. 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 Eight of his fellow aviation crew members were killed: Arnold, Carl Lloyd Dorman, William Burns McKenna, Michael Joseph Schlatter, Robert Leroy True, Roger Glenn Turner, William Henry, Jr Underwood, Carey Lee Hopper, Prentice William