Navy Fire Controlman 2nd Class Harold F. Trapp, 24 and Navy Electrician's Mate William H. Trapp, 23, were aboard the USS Oklahoma that day in Pearl Harbor when it capsized and they met their deaths.
They were from La Porte in northwest Indiana.
Distinguishing between the two brothers using their bone DNA would have been difficult except the older brother was taller, so they just measured the bone fragments.
They were born in Chicago, but the family moved to La Porte when they were young. They earned money picking fruit and caddying at a local golf course.
Harold was more studious, serious and athletic, while William was more artistic and carefree. Even with these differences, the brothers were extremely close. Very patriotic, they joined the Navy Reserve while in high school.
It was William who first put forth the idea of enlisting in the regular Navy. Harold went along with him. William reported to the Oklahoma in 1939 and Harold the following year.
The hardest thing for the family was not knowing what happened to them until February 19 when the Navy notified them that they had been unable to locate them.
--GreGen
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