Name: Joseph William LONG
Rank / Rating: S1-Seaman First Class
Service #: 948 38 63
DOB: Jun 12, 1907
From: Wyoming, OH
Parents: Mrs. Mattie Long
Went Aboard: May 07, 1944
Age When Ship Went Down: 38 years, 1 months, 18 days
Spouse: Mrs. Thelma Long
Children: Sons Denny (6) and William (11)
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Date Posted:

Joseph was born June 12, 1907. The 1940 US Census shows Joseph Long, 32 yo, born KY. He was a gardener on a private estate. Thelma, wife, 27 yo, born Woodlawn, Hamilton Co., OH William, son, 6 yo, born OH Dennie, son, 1 yo, born OH He registered for the draft on Oct 16, 1940 at age 33.

Joseph enlisted in the US Navy at Cincinnati, OH., on Jan 31, 1944. He was 37 years old. He completed basic training at Great Lakes, IL. His rate advanced to S2c (Seaman 2nd class) before he was transferred to the Receiving Station, Shoemaker, CA. From Shoemaker, Joseph was transferred April 30, 1944, to board a ship for the long trip to the receiving station, Navy #128, Pearl Harbor, Oahu, T.H., where he would meet up with his assigned ship. On May 7, 1944, Joseph was received aboard USS Indianapolis CS-35. His rate advanced to S1c while on board. He served on board for the duration of his service in the USNR which ended on July 30, 1945, when Indianapolis was sunk by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-85. Joseph was 38 years old when he was lost at sea. He left behind his wife, Thelma, and two sons, William age 11 and Dennie age 6. Also left to grieve his death was his mother, Mattie, one brother and two sisters. Prior to entering the service, Joseph was employed by Philip Carey Company, according to the news article shown below. See below to review a Cincinnati Enquirer Newspaper Article, "Eight Seamen Declared Dead; With Crew Of Indianapolis; Fate of Ninth Undisclosed". The article mentions Joseph along with eight other men from Hamilton County Lost at Sea with the sinking of USS Indianapolis CA-35 on July 30, 1945. Albert Koegler William Koegler Ralph A. Priestle Paul J. Gottmann Edward G. Halloran Paul J. Mauntel Jerome C. Neuman Ralph J. Helscher Source: 1940 US Census, OH, Hamilton Co., Mount Healthy Village, Township Springfield. HH# 7344. Enumerated April 16, 1940. Official USN deck logs and training base logs