I came across your posting in the Veterans Forum and I had only recently found out that my Great Uncle, Billy Joe Boegen, had served on board the Salt Lake City. I was thrilled to actually find my Uncles name in your Navy list!

Billy Joe Boegen, born in Hamilton TX Apr. 23, 1924. Enlisted into the Navy Oct. 27, 1941 in Dallas TX. Service Number 356-69-57

His military records show that he served on the USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the engagements with the enemy in the Battles of the Coral Sea, May 4-8, 1942 and Midway Island June 4-7, 1942. The USS Yorktown was sunk at the Battle of Midway.

On June 16, 1942, he transferred to the USS West Virginia for duty. Billy Joe went AWOL on Jul. 9 until Jul. 11, 1942, a period of 2 days and 1 hour. He was tried on Jul. 20, 1942 and was sentenced to solitary confinement for a period of 30 days, and to lose $39.00 per month of his pay for a period of 6 months, a total loss of pay amounting to $234.00. But the period of confinement was reduced to 15 days and the loss of pay reduced to a total of $60.00. He was relieved as Messman on Nov. 30th, 1942.

On Feb. 23, 1943. he was transferred to the USS Salt Lake City for duty. He served on the Salt Lake City for 8 months and was a member of the crew during a surface engagement off the Komandorski Islands, March 25, 1943.

On April 27th, 1943 he was declared a "straggler" from the US Naval service from 1300, April 26, 1943, having been absent over leave since that hour and date. On May 7, 1943 he surrendered on board as a "straggler". On May 15, he was transferred to the RS, San Francisco, CA. Absent without Leave since May 10th. Missed ship upon sailing.

He surrendered on board the USS Minneapolis on Jun. 4, 1943, at Mare Island, CA. in uniform, after having been a straggler from the USS Salt Lake City since on or about May 10, 1943. He was transferred to Receiving Ship, San Francisco, CA., for appropriate action on Jun. 4, 1943. On Jun. 7th, he was transferred to the Personnel Distribution Center, Pleasanton, CA. for disciplinary action and disposition. On Aug. 2, he was transferred to the US Naval Personnel Distribution Center in CA. for detention awaiting sentence of G.C.M. for offense: AWOL. On Oct. 29, 1943 he was reduced in rating from S1c to AS for a period of 6 months, then to be discharged from the US Naval Service with a BCD and to suffer all the other accessories of said sentence in accordance with the sentence of General Court Martial. The orders read that if, during the first five months of his confinement, conducts himself in a manner satisfactory to his C. O., the execution of the unexecuted part of his sentence will be held in abeyance with a view to withholding its execution entirely upon the successful completion of a probationary period of 6 months.

On Jan. 11th, 1944 he was released and restored to duty in a probationary status in accordance with approved sentence of General Court Martial.

On Jan. 17, 1944 he was transferred to the USS Cassin Young for duty. On Mar. 30, he completed two days fire fighting school at Pearl Harbor. On Dec. 1, 1944 he advanced to S1c

Billy was wounded April 12, 1945 by shrapnel when a kamikaze plane carrying a bomb exploded above the ship. On April 29, 1945 he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received in action against the enemy.

He came back to duty on May 25 1945 from FLT Hospital #103, and was mortally wounded on July 30, 1945 by another kamikaze plane. 22 men lost their lives in that attack.

Billy Joe died July 31, 1945 and was buried in Island Command Cemetery in Okinawa. Three years later in 1948 his mother had his remains brought home and he is now buried in Grove Hill Memorial Park Cemetery, in Dallas TX along side his infant brother.

Billy Joe was killed before I was born and not many of us in the family know much about him. I do have a photo of him, but all I have to go by is the stories of the Veterans.

If anyone remembers Billy, please contact

Debbie Christie-Rogers