WWII, One Man's Story, Part 5 of 8

I'm sure the days were long and the nights even longer for Hester and William Sanders as they awaited word about their son who was missing in action on board the USS Frederick C. Davis in the last days of WWII. It must've been especially hard for them when so many others were celebrating the end of the war. All their worries came to an end on May 30, 1945 when they received the following telegram…

WESTERN UNION

GA 40 89 GOVT = WASHINGTON, DC 30 451 A

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM SANDERS SR.
46 SECOND STREET HEILWOOD PENN

THE NAVY DEPARTMENT DEEPLY REGRETS TO INFORM YOU THAT A CAREFUL REVIEW OF ALL FACTS AVAILABLE RELATING TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF YOUR SON WILLIAMS SANDERS JR. SEAMAN FIRST CLASS USNR PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE IS NO HOPE FOR HIS SURVIVAL AND THAT HE LOST HIS LIFE AS A RESULT OF ENEMY ACTION ON 24 APRIL 1945 WHILE IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS RECEIVED IT WILL BE FORWARDED TWO YOU PROMPTLY SINCERE SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO YOU IN YOUR GREAT SORROW

VICE ADMIRAL RANDAL JACOBS CHIEF OF NAVAL PERSONNEL

(Stamped May 30, 1945)

Their beloved only son, namesake of William Sanders Sr., Senior Class President of Pine Township High School Class of 1944, athlete, scholar, and brother to his eight sisters who absolutely adored him, would not be coming home again. He died on April 24, just 10 days after the last letter he wrote home and exactly two weeks before V - E Day and the end of WWII.

The complete series of WWII, One Man's Story:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8