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WT2c William Joseph Curry
William Joseph Curry and six of his eight siblings served in the military. He was a watertender and petty officer second class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
The others, including a sister who was an Army nurse, all survived their service, though at least two had harrowing experiences. Robert, a Marine, was taken prisoner on Wake Island, and held by the Japanese for four years. Nathan was forced to bail out of his burning Corsair when it was hit while on a mission in the Korean War. Badly burned, he was able to deploy a lifeboat and was rescued after two or three hours by a destroyer.
The Currys were the children of Guy Curry, a farmer, and Edna Eaves Curry, a homemaker, in Parnell, Missouri, population 450.
William Joseph was born Sept. 30, 1916. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 and 1935. He enlisted in the Navy on Jan. 10, 1936. Mr. Curry was survived by his widow, Aletha. They married Jan. 2, 1941 while the Arizona was dry-docked at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton west of Seattle.Sources: The Maryville (Missouri) Daily Forum; the Albany (Missouri) Ledger; Census; Navy muster roll; Washington marriage license. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.