World War II Honoree

Robert Bruce Monks

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

John J. Graf

Relationship

HFTS Friend

GM 3/C MONKS WAS ABOARD THE USS INDIANAPOLIS AND WAS BURIED AT SEA AFTER DELIVERING ATOMIC BOMB COMPONENTS. HIS SHIP LEFT PORTALONE WITHOUT FILING A PLAN FOR SAILING ROUTES. THE INDIANAPOLIS WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY A JAPANESE SUBMARINE. ROBERT WAS AMONG THE 833 SAILORS WHO PERISHED. HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA AND IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.