Charles was born August 15, 1919 in Michigan. He was the son of Charles L. and Marian Crego Myers.
In 1930 he was in the household of his parents in Jackson, Jackson Co., MI.
Charles Myers, 40 yo, b. Michigan; first marriage at age 23.
Marian, wife, 36 yo, b. Michigan; first marriage at age 19.
Lillian, 16 yo; Kenneth, 15 yo; Charles, 10 yo
Charles married Rachel Ella (unknown) before 1940. The 1940 US Census, MI, Jackson Co., Jackson, shows:
Charles L. Myers, 20 yo, b. Michigan. Highest grade completed - H-1 (1st year of high school, 9th grade). He lived in the same place on April 1, 1935. Charles was a government employee in the Emergency Works program working in road construction.
Rachel E., wife, 22 yo, b. Michigan. Highest grade completed - H-1. She lived in the same place on April 1, 1935.
Source CreditsMichigan, Registers of Marriage, Ingham, p. 347, #5987; citing marriage of Charles Myers, 23 yo and Marian Crego, 19 yo, July 3, 1912, both of Stockbridge, MI; Charles born Detroit, MI, Marian born Unknown place.
1930 US Census, MI, Jackson Co., Jackson, Dist 15., 2nd Ward. Enumerated April 10, 1930. HH# 1001 citing Charles Myers family
1940 US Census, MI, Jackson Co., Jackson, Dist 38-15. Enumerated April 8, 1940.
HH# 169 citing Charles L. Myers and Rachel E. Myers
Polk's 1940 City Directory, MI, Jackson Co., Jackson, p.272; Citing Charles L. Myers (Rachel E.) living at 1303 Backus.
Jackson Citizen Patriot, Jackson, MI, Sunday, Sept. 30, 1945, p. 1; citing Navy Lists C. L. Myers Lost at Sea
Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; Michigan, page 23; citing Charles L. Myers, Jr., S2c, USNR, wife Mrs. Rachel Ella Myers, 728 Andrew Ave., Jackson, MI
Photo collage from the family file of Sandy Shively, July 30, 2021, at Ancestry.
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second Class
Charles enlisted in the US Navy on Dec 20, 1943 at the Naval Recruiting Station, Detroit, MI.
He was received for basic training at Great Lakes Navy Training Station on Dec 27, 1943. After about 12 weeks, he was received on Mar 19, 1944 at the Naval Training and Receiving Station at Shoemaker, CA. He was a S2c (Seaman 2nd class).
He was received aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on April 25, 1944 from Receiving Ship, San Francisco, CA.
Charles continued at the rate of S2c throughout his service on board Indianapolis. As a member of the Seaman Branch, his work was tough and vital to keep the ship operational. It involved line handling, standing watch, corrosion prevention and basic seamanship.
Charles left behind a young wife when he was lost at sea when Indianapolis was sunk on July 30, 1945 by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58.
He was entitled to wear the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with one silver star device denoting 5 battle stars awarded to Indianapolis while he served on board - Marianas Operation, Capture and Occupation of Tinian, Western Carolina Islands Operation, Iwo Jima Operation and Okinawa Gunto Operation.
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.
Note: This Charles Lee Myers Jr., born Aug 15, 1919 should not be confused with Charles Lee Myers, Jr., born June 14, 1927 in Montgomery, Madison Co., IN., son of Charles Lee and Ruby McCormick Myers, and who registered for the draft but not until June 14, 1945. Both men lived in Jackson, Jackson Co., MI., in 1940 and appear on the census.
MICHIGAN MEMORIAL PLAQUE
See photographs, below to view a memorial plaque that was dedicated circa 1946 to honor seventy-two (72) State of Michigan men who served on USS Indianapolis CA-35 and who were Lost At Sea.
Charles Lee Myers, Jr's name is listed on the plaque!
Per the caption on one of the photos, the plaque was originally planned in 1946 for display at a proposed Detroit Civic Center. The plaque was initially displayed at the Detroit Naval Post VFW #233. However, the plaque had vanished for decades, fueling rumors of theft, being melted for scrap, or hidden away in a private basement.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jeff Ortiz (nephew of LAS Orlando Ortiz, Y3c) and Joni Deaver (cousin of LAS Charles Roof Jr., S2c), this priceless piece of history has been re-discovered in the Detroit Historical Society storage basement in Michigan.
One of the photos shows Jeff Ortiz and Ralph McNabb (nephew of LAS Thomas McNabb, Jr., F2c) standing behind the very dusty plaque as it was found.
ABBOTT, George Stanley 
FRONTINO, Vincent Fred 
AMICK, Homer Irwin