William McCarthy
| Date and Place of Birth: | August 28, 1925 Escanaba, MI |
| Date and Place of Death: | May 4, 1945 off Okinawa |
| Baseball Experience: | Amateur |
| Position: | Unknown |
| Rank: | Seaman First Class |
| Military Unit: | US Navy |
| Area Served: | Pacific Theater of Operations |
William R. McCarthy was born on August 28, 1925 in Escanaba,
Michigan. He attended Escanaba High School where he played football,
basketball and track, playing baseball with local teams.
McCarthy graduated from high school in 1944 and entered service with the
navy in March. Following boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, he attended radio
school at Treasure Island, California, and gunnery school, also in
California. On Decemebr 27, 1944, Seaman First Class McCarthy left for
overseas duty serving aboard the Gleaves-class destroyer USS Gwin
(DM-330), a flagship of Mine Squadron 3.
On May 4, 1945, while on radar picket station off Okinawa, the destroyer
was attacked by Japanese kamikaze planes. The ship’s official report
describes the events of that evening:
“Combat Air Patrol reported eight to 10 enemy planes to port, and Gwin
swung her batteries to face the enemy. Suddenly a second contingent of
planes swept in out of the setting sun to starboard. Gwin swung her guns
around just in time and two of the attackers splashed into the sea.
Whirling to port, the gun crews fired into the original attack group and
accounted for three more kamikazes.
"The sea had not yet closed over these three planes when a sixth,
another kamikaze, crashed Gwin. Two men were killed, two missing and 11
injured as the suicide plane embedded itself into Gwin's aft 40mm
platform. Then, as damage control parties rushed to quell the fires
raging around the kamikaze, the Japanese attack ended as suddenly as it
had begun.
"In less than six hectic, heroic minutes, Gwin, although under attack
from all quarters, had downed five Japanese planes and been herself
damaged by the sixth.”
William McCarthy was originally listed as missing after the attack. His
status was later changed to killed in action.
Source
Escanaba Daily Press – October 1, 2011
Date Added May 9, 2013
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