Coxswain Donald Paul Shockey

World War II US Navy USS Vireo (AT-144) Service Number: 03722887 Born: October 27, 1920, Oregon Inducted: March 17, 1941 Missing in action October 15, 1942, Solomon Islands when the USS Meredith was sunk. Memorial Marker - Manila American Cemetery, Philippines. Memorial Marker - Akron Cemetery Purple Heart

Son of Moses M. and Bessie E. (Goode) Shockey of Akron.

Akron Cemetery

Tablet of the Missing - Manila American Cemetery

Photo by ABMC Staff

February 4, 1943 The Akron News-Reporter

Akron Boy is Reported Missing

Word was received in Akron last Thursday that Donald Shockey has been reported missing in the South Pacific.

Don is the son of Mrs. Bessie Shockey of Akron and has spent the last ten years in Washington county. He attended school in Platner before joining the navy.

Thursday November 11, 1943 The Akron News-Reporter

Memorial services for Donald Paul Shockey of Akron will be conducted at the Akron Methodist Church Sunday afternoon, November 14 by Alva N. Graves Post No. 66 and the Rev. Frank E. Dawson. Donald, a coxswain aboard the U. S. S. Meredith, was reported missing in action, following a sea battle with the Japanese fleet in the south Pacific Ocean on October 15, 1942.

Thursday November 18, 1943 The Otis Independent

Memorial services for Donald Shockey, Coxswain U. S. Navy, were held at the Methodist Church in Akron Sunday afternoon, November 14.

Donald Paul Shockey, second son of Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Shockey, was born at Hermiston, Oregon, on October 27, 1920. Here he attended grade school until he moved to Colorado with his parents in 1932, where he finished his schooling in Washington County.

Donald volunteered to go to the Navy on March 17, 1941. He received his training at the U. S. Training Station, San Diego, California. After he completed his training he was stationed at Pearl Harbor fifteen months and was still there when war was declared.

He was in a battle on October 15, 1942, and owing to the enemy position he was transferred from the U. S. S. Vireo to the Meredith and aboard the latter ship when she was sunk by enemy action in the South Pacific. There were 53 casualties on board this ship.

Donald is survived by his mother, Mrs. Bessie Shockey of Akron; and six sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Jennie Standely of Wiladel, Colorado; Ray of Nampa, Idaho; Mrs. Ella Clowser of Otis, Mrs. Anna Mae Woodall of Salt Lake City, Utah; Billy, Hazel, Helen, and Mary at home. His father and one brother, James Marion, preceded him in death.

Thursday November 18, 1943 The Akron News-Reporter

Memorial services for Donald P. Shockey, son of Mrs. Bessie Shockey of Akron, were conducted at the Akron Methodist Church Sunday afternoon, November 14, with the Rev. Frank E. Dawson in charge.

Donald Paul Shockey, second son of Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Shockey, was born at Hermiston, Oregon, on October 27, 1920. There he attended grade school until he moved to Colorado with his parents in 1932, where he finished his schooling in Washington County.

Donald volunteered to go to the navy March 17, 1941. He received his training at the U. S. Naval Training station, San Diego, California. After he finished his training, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor, H.I. for 15 months and was there when war was declared.

He was in a battle on October 15, 1942 in which he lost his life.

Akron News-Reporter June 1, 1944

Mrs. Bessie Shockey Receives Son's Award

Mrs. Bessie Shockey of Akron received the Order of the Purple Heart and the certificate Wednesday, which were awarded posthumously to her son Donald Paul Shockey.

Donald was reported missing in action for a year after a naval battle in the south Pacific on Oct. 16, 1942.

At the end of a year, in accordance with the naval custom, he as considered lost in action. Donald was a coxswain aboard the USS Meredith at the time it was sunk by the enemy.

The certificate, which accompanied the beautifully engraved medal, bore the signatures of Randall Jacobs, vice admiral, chief of navy personnel, and James V. Forestall, secretary of the navy.

Notes:

Donald Paul Shockey photograph donated by Ella Clowser.

Headstone photograph donated by Arlene Glenn.

From The Official Chronology of the US Navy in World War II.

October 15, 1942 - Off San Cristobal, Solomons, destroyer Meredith (DD-434) takes on board the crew of tug Vireo (AT-144) at approach of planes from Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. Before Meredith can scuttle the tug with a torpedo to prevent her from falling into enemy hands, however, the destroyer is overwhelmed and sunk in the ensuing air attack, by bombs and aerial torpedoes; Vireo and her tow (a gasoline barge), though, having been abandoned, drift off, untouched by the enemy. Some Meredith survivors reach safety on board the tug.

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