World War II Honoree

Earl Maurice Ellis

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hope, Arkansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Radioman Third Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy July 31, 1940 at Little Rock, Arkansas, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Radio Schooling, he was transferred to the USS Oklahoma Battleship, BB-37 for duty as a Radio Technician, and based at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. On Sunday Morning, December 7, 1941 the Emperor of Japan’s Naval Aviators launched a devastating, surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base, and other military installations on Oahu. The Oklahoma moored on Ford Island along with her shipmates came under attack, and she sustained multiple torpedo strikes, which caused the warship to capsize. The Battle of Pearl Harbor took his life on the day of the attack, and interred in the Oahu Nuuanu Cemetery, Territory of Hawaii. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, personnel from an American Graves Registration Company disinterred the unknown remains from the Oahu Cemetery, and laid them to rest in the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. The family of this Seaman received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest with Military Honors, October 9, 1994 at the Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.