WT1c Alfred Adam Ewell

Alfred Adam Ewell was born Aug. 25, 1911 in or near tiny Springston, Idaho south of Coeur d’Alene to Quarles Denton Ewell and Lulu May Luxton Ewell. The next day John J. Ewell was stillborn as the third offspring. Whether Alfred was the first or second born, there are apparently no records of the other triplet.

By the time another son was born in late July 1917 the family had moved to La Crosse in southeastern Washington state. In the same year the family was listed as living in Spokane with the father working as a boilermaker. By 1920 the family had moved to Pullman, Washington. The 1920 Census identified the father as a teamster and the mother as a homemaker.

Alfred enlisted in the US Navy originally in Washington State and then re-enlisted on October 23, 1935 in San Pedro, California. He spent over 10 years serving aboard the USS Arizona since April 3, 1931.

On Jan. 17, 1940 in Clark County, Nevada, Alfred married Evelyn Elizabeth McKay.

Less than two years later he was a watertender and petty officer first class when he was killed on the U.S.S. Arizona in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

He was survived by his widow, Evelyn McKay Ewell, who lived in Los Angeles.

At least one brother, Clyde, served in the Army in World War II and survived.

Sources: Census; birth, death and marriage records; Veterans Administration. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona and Operation 85. Special thanks to nephew Dean Ewell for photos and documents of Alfred.