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EM2c John Christopher Thorman
John Christopher Thorman’s family was at church on the Sunday before Christmas when a Navy telegram arrived telling them he was missing in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
His death aboard the U.S.S. Arizona was confirmed in February. Mr. Thorman was an electrician’s mate and petty officer second class.
Until he joined the Navy on March 9, 1938, he had spent his life near Granville, Iowa, population 361 about 40 miles northeast of Sioux City.
He was born Jan. 15, 1917 to John J. Thorman, a farmer, and Marie Bussanmus Thorman, a homemaker. He was survived by a brother and four sisters.
He attended St. Joseph’s School through the 9th grade and then joined his father in farming.
Sources: The Alton (Iowa) Democrat; Rock Valley (Iowa) Bee; Sioux City (Iowa) Journal; Census; Navy muster roll; Iowa birth index. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.