Gunner's Mate 2nd Class William Francis Hellstern, One of USS Oklahoma's Unknowns-- Part 1

From the May 18, 2018, 9 News NBC, Colorado "Missing sailor killed at Pearl Harbor brought home after 76 years" by Noel Brennan.

Years ago, before she passed away, Ted Hummell's mother, Jeanne, cut off a piece of her hair and placed it in her Bible next to locks of hair from her siblings.  One of those locks of hair belonged to Ted's uncle, Gunner's Mate 2nd Class William Francis Hellstern, a man Ted never got to meet because he died on the USS Oklahoma that day in 1941.

The 20-year-old from Peoria, Illinois, never made it off his ship.

Letters were sent from the Navy to the family afterwards.  On December 20, 1941,  Rear Admiral  Randall Jacobs, wrote:

"The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, William Francis Hellstern, Gunner's Mate 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, is missing following action in performance of his duty and in the service of his country."

Another from February 1942, began, "After exhaustive search it has been found impossible to locate your son."

--GreGen