Sidney's obituary notes he served in the USN for 22 years. This establishes an enlistment date of c1923, five years after the end of WWI, when he was about 20 years old. However, without a copy of his official Navy personnel file, there can only be speculation about Sidney's early service.
The photo on this page, upper right corner, is from the Ancestry file of Vicki Dickey, 2009. Sidney was her uncle.
The photo is a cropped version of the original and appears to be a pastel chalk portrait and shows Sidney from the waist up. He sent this picture to his "Dad", dated Nov 3, 1924. He is wearing a US Navy undress blue jumper with a small collar flap without markings, a white undershirt and no neckerchief. The sleeves are loose at the wrist, with one tannish color stripe on the left lower sleeve which likely indicates the rate of Apprentice Seaman. There are no other visible distinguishing marks. The style of the uniform is from the 1920's and is in keeping with his enlistment date of c1923, but possibly 1924 based upon the date it was sent to his father
.
Also, shown at Ancestry, file of "cherrilink", 2009, is a postcard addressed to Sidney, USS Tatnuck, Bremerton, WA and postmarked July 1, 1931. This is another clue as to Sidney's early service.
USS Tatnuck AT27 was a Bagaduce class fleet tug commissioned in July 1919. She was assigned to the 13th Naval District, which encompassed the Pacific northwest and the Alaskan coast. She engaged in towing operations for almost all of her 27-year career. [DANFS].
Vickyi Dickey shows another photo of Spencer dated May 8, 1932 "taken in Woodland Park, Seattle, WA." This date and location could coincide with Sidney's time on board Tatnuck.
The first record available to this researcher is the Muster Roll of Crew of USS New Orleans CA-32 for the quarter ending Mar 31, 1939. Sidney was listed as a BM2c (Boatswain's Mate second class). He enlisted on Dec 17, 1938, San Pedro, CA and the date he came aboard the ship was the same date - Dec 17, 1938. There is little doubt that this indicates he re-enlisted in the Navy on this date. In ship records, the date of a re-enlistment became his new "enlisted" date as well as the first date aboard even if the sailor was already serving on board.
Even though the re-enlistment information is valuable, the date he originally went aboard USS New Orleans is not known. On board New Orleans, Sidney's rate of BM2/c indicates he was in the Navy for quite some time before 1939. He would have followed the required Navy path in the Seaman Branch of Apprentice Seaman, Seaman 2nd class, Seaman 1st class, then Coxwain (there was no rate of BM3/c) before being advanced to BM2c.
A Boatswain's Mate supervised deck divisions, including maintenance, and usually acted as senior petty officer of a deck crew. He was responsible for the ship's rigging, anchoring and mooring, handling of boats on board and supervised manning and operation of loading and unloading gear.
Based upon the date that Sidney re-enlisted and came on board USS New Orleans, Dec 17, 1938, a history of the ship was reviewed. DANFS records no history for 1938 and that "aside from winter training in the Caribbean early in 1939, she served out of California ports until joining the Hawaiian Detachment 12 October 1939 for exercises, training, and, as war drew close, vigilant patrol."
While on board, on Aug 16, 1939, he was advanced to BM1c. [BM1c was a 1st class Petty Officer]
He was granted leave and on Dec 1, 1940 he boarded USS Winslow DD-359 for transport from Pear Harbor to San Diego, CA. He arrived on Dec 8th so he was not present when his ship, USS New Orleans, was attacked at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941.
It was a nice long furlough for Sidney. He did not report back to San Pedro, CA until Jan 17, 1942. That day, he boarded USS Neches for the trip back to Pearl Harbor, then went on board USS Chicago to rejoin USS New Orleans. It was not always easy to "catch up" with a ship in the Pacific. Sidney did not report back aboard New Orleans until Feb 8, 1942, four days before she sailed Feb 12th commanding the escort for a troop convoy to Brisbane. From Australia she screened a convoy to Noumea, and returned to Pearl Harbor to join TF 11.
On Apr 10, 1942 Sidney was advanced from BM1c to CBM(AA) (Chief Boatswain's Mate - Acting Appointment). Most likely his appointment was "acting" because he was filling a vacancy in the ship's billet. Acting appointments were generally six months to a year in length and this proved true in Sidney's case.
Sidney was on board when New Orleans joined USS Yorktown, USS Lexington and other ships of the joint force for the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7-8, 1942. "Lexington was mortally wounded and New Orleans stood by, her men diving overboard to rescue survivors and her boat crews closing the burning carrier, oblivious to the dangers of flying debris and exploding ordnance as they saved 580 of Lexington's crew."
His service in New Orleans ended May 27, 1942, the day before the ship sailed from San Francisco to join in the Battle of Midway. He was transferred to the 11th Naval District for duty on board USS Hilo, MTB, a Motor Torpedo Boat Tender, (later designated AGP-2 in 1943).
He went aboard on June 16th at Long Beach, CA, five days after she was re-commissioned. He remained on board for eleven months until she was taken out of service in Oct, 1942 and sent to the naval yard for modifications. On the muster roll of Hilo Sidney's enlistment date was still noted as Dec 17, 1938.
Sidney's next duty was on board USS Chew DD-106. He went aboard Oct 11, 1942 while the ship was at San Francisco having escorted a convoy from Pearl Harbor. Chew departed San Francisco on Nov 23rd and returned to Hawaii with another convoy group. Chew continued patrol and convoy duties.
The day he had waited so long for finally came Dec 1, 1942. After eight months as a CBM, Acting, he was advanced to CBM (PA), (Chief Boatswain's Mate - Permanent Appointment). The Commanding Office of Chew had submitted a recommendation to the Bureau of Navy Personnel (BUPERS) and Sidney's appointment had been approved.
A photo, below, shows Sidney shaking hands with an unknown officer. He is wearing a service dress blue double-breasted uniform with three half-inch broken stripes on the left lower sleeve denoting his rate of Chief Petty Officer. The insignia badge worn on his upper right sleeve cannot be seen but would be the badge of a Chief Boatswain's Mate. Note that he is wearing at least two, possibly three, campaign ribbons, but, unfortunately, they cannot be identified. His cap is the standard combination type with a black vinyl covered leather chinstrap and what appears to be the CPO insignia device. The date of the photo would be after Dec 1, 1942.
Following his promotion, Sidney had no thought of ending his naval career at this point. He had been in the Navy almost 20 years and likely hoped for 20 more.
On board Chew, on Dec 29, 1942, Sidney signed an "Agreement to extend enlistment for three (3) years executed this date. Extension effective 12/28/42."
On Jan 23, 1943, Sidney transferred off Chew. He arrived at Pearl Harbor receiving station then forward to San Francisco and on to Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA where, on Feb 28, 1943, he boarded minesweeper USS YMS-286. The official records show he went aboard for temporary duty "Detail" until June 30, 1943. The ship was still being "fitted out" and Sidney was there to assist in getting the ship in shape for commissioning.
He returned to Bremerton, WA, for almost a month and transferred back to YMS-286 on July 27, 1943, the day she was commissioned into the fleet of the US Navy. As a new ship, it was important for experienced crewmembers to be among the compliment. He remained on board for the next nine months.
March 15, 1944* was a day Sidney would never forget. He received his commission as a Warrant Officer - Boatswain. A Chief Boatswain's Mate could advance to Commissioned Warrant Officer only through experience, examination, and appointment. Skilled enlisted "Boat Mates," provided crucial technical expertise, particularly in deck operations, and their promotion to Warrant Officer recognized their trust and honor, even though they were not commissioned officers.
After his promotion, the Navy decided Sidney's knowledge and skills were needed elsewhere and on April 27, 1944 he was transferred to the Commander, 12th Navy District, Mare Island, CA for further assignment. There is little doubt that he was granted furlough before receiving his next orders.
On June 21, 1944 he boarded VF-341 at San Francisco for transport to "Fray" and his new ship assignment. Fray was the Navy's term for the war zone and the exact destination was never specified in the ship's logs due to security concerns. Hopefully, he would arrive at a port where his new ship was present or was soon expected. If not, he would be transported to another port in hopes of catching up with the ship.
After steaming all night, USS Indianapolis CA-35, flagship of Adm. Spruance, Commander of the 5th Fleet, arrived in port at Saipan Island on the morning of Aug 14, 1944. Sidney was lucky that he arrived in port the same day as his new ship. He walked the gangway and was granted permission to come aboard.
A heavy cruiser was no stranger to Sidney. His former cruiser, USS New Orleans CA-32, was commissioned 15 months after Indianapolis and was the first of the New Orleans Class. Indy, a Portland Class, was over 20 feet longer and had a two-foot shallower draft, but these differences were really slight. They both carried the same armament. Their primary difference was the complement of each ship. Indy was designed to carry over 500 more crewmembers.
Five days after Sidney went aboard, Indy departed Saipan and after exercises at Eniwetok steamed for Pearl Harbor where Adm. Spruance hauled down his flag and went ashore Sept. 1st. After refueling and taking on provisions, Indy departed Sept 2, 1944 for duty with the 3rd Fleet. In the early morning hours of Sept. 11th, she rendezvoused with TG 32.5 , Eastern Gunfire Support Group, Rear Adm. Oldendorf, and advanced towards the Palau Islands. Indy conducted bombardments through D-D, Sept 15th. She remained in the area until the 29th when she steamed for Manus Island, forward to Pearl Harbor and then to Mare Island where she arrived Oct 19, 1944 for overhaul following her long Pacific service. Sidney would spend Christmas and the beginning of the new year on dry ground and likely was granted leave before Indy departed on Jan 3, 1945.
Sidney arrived with his ship on Feb 1, 1945 at Ulithi Atoll, two weeks before she made the first attack on Tokyo on Feb 14th. Throughout the action, Indianapolis played her vital role of support ship. She sailed on to Iwo Jima where action began on the 19th. Indianapolis did her share of the bombardment of the island where Japanese soldiers hid in and attacked US forces from subterranean tunnels. She moved back to Tokyo to Honshu and Nansei Shoto for more bombardment of the islands and remained until the operation ended on Mar 1st.
During the Iwo Jima operation Indianapolis was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane on Mar 31st. Nine men were killed and 20 injured. There is no record that Sidney was injured. Indy limped back to Mare Island, CA, for repairs and refitting, where she would remain for two-and-a-half months. Most assuredly, Sidney was granted leave to visit his family.
Sidney was awarded 3 bronze stars to place on his Asiatic-Pacific ribbon representing the 3 battle stars awarded to Indianapolis since he had been on board.
Sidney, no doubt, dreamed of continuing up the ranks to Chief Warrant Officer. The Navy required six more years of service before he would be considered for the promotion. It was not to be.
At Mare Island, Sidney and his shipmates prepared for a top-secret delivery to the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. No one on board knew the contents of their cargo when they departed on July 16, 1945.
After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, she sailed for Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, on July 30, 1945, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Sidney made it off the ship and into the water is not known.
Sidney was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines.
A cenotaph was placed in Powers Cemetery, Pepsin, Newton Co., MO, where his parents are buried.
Sidney, you are not forgotten. Well Done, faithful and dedicated sailor.
In addition to his Purple Heart, American Campaign and Asiatic-Pacific ribbons, Sidney was eligible for the WWII Victory medal.
Also, his family may request the Combat Action ribbon which was approved in 1999 and made retroactive to Dec 7, 1941.
Source CreditsNote:
*Sidney's change in rate noted in the ship record as 15 Mar 1944 coincides with the date published in the "Military Register" of July 1944 and 1945.
The Bluejacket’s Manual, Promotion to Warrant Rank , eleventh edition, 1943, p. 39.
The Bluejacket’s Manual, Promotion to Warrant Rank, eleventh edition, 1943, p. 39.
Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; CA, p. 84; citing son, Johnnie Clifford Spencer C/O Dorothy Spencer, Los Angeles, CA.
Photo of Sidney Spencer, his wife and son from the Ancestry file of "cherrilink", 2009. Sidney was her uncle. Photo undated.
1910 US Census, MO, Newton, Van Buren Twsp, Ritchey Prct., HH # 10; citing family of George W. Spencer
MO, Marriage Record, Newton Co., p. 131; citing marriage of G. W. Spencer and Effie A. Jones, 1894.
Uniforms of the US Navy, Historical Surveys of the Evolution of US Navy Uniforms; online at history.navy.mil.
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
USS Hilo history online: https://www.shipscribe.com/usnaux/AGP/AGP02.html
Nemeth, Nicholas, CWO4, LDO/CWO Academy, Newport, RI. "Warrant Officer, Chief Warrant Officer and Limited Duty Officer History." 2023. Online www.netc.novy.mil
USN, Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the US Navy and Naval Reserve, 1 July 1944; Washington; July 1944 & July 1945; Boatswains, p. 444 & 351; citing Sidney Ancil Spencer, born 20 Feb 03, Boatswain - March 15, 1944.
Carthage Evening Post, Wed., Aug. 15, 1945, p. 5
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195367459/sidney_a-spencer: accessed September 5, 2025), memorial page for Sidney A Spencer (20 Feb 1903-30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 195367459, citing Powers Cemetery, Pepsin, Newton County, MO
Rank / Rating: WO-Warrant Officer (Boatswain)
ABBOTT, George Stanley 
FRONTINO, Vincent Fred 
AMICK, Homer Irwin