Willard C. Aves, USS Arizona Victim, Kingston, Illinois Resident

From the  August 1, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Charles T. Aves, well-known Kingston resident, received an Order of the Purple Heart citation, posthumously  awarded his son, Willard C. Aves, member of the crew  of the U.S.S. Arizona."

A DeKalb County Casualty Right At the Beginning of U.S. Involvement In World War II.--  GreGen

Death Notice of Willard Aves-- Part 2

Continued from yesterday.

A native of Sycamore, Willar Aves has resided most of his life in Kingston, Illinois.

Besides his father, survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Irene Glass of Kingston and Mrs. Mildred Miller of Herbert.  Willard's mother, Mrs. Mamie Glidden Aves, preceded her in death.

Find-A-Grave

Charles John Aves  1875-1954

Mamie Melvina Glidden Aves  1885-1825  (Only child of Thomas Glidden  The Glidden name is famous in DeKalb County as Joseph Glidden is given credit for inventing barbed wire.  I am not sure if there was a relationship here.)

Sister--  Irene B. Aves 1920-2010.

All buried at Kingston Cemetery.

--GreGen

Death Notice for Willard Aves-- Part 1

Death Notice in the Sycamore True American, Friday, January 23, 1942.

"The Navy Department on Monday confirmed the "death in action" in the Pearl Harbor raid of Seaman Willard Aves, 20 years old, son of Charles Aves of Kingston.

"Young Aves enlisted in the Navy four months after his graduation from Kingston High School in 1940.

At the time of the Pearl Harbor Raid of December 7, he was attached to the crew of an American battleship."

--GreGen

Willard Charles Aves: Find-A-Grave

From Find-A-Grave.

Birth: Unknown  Death: December 7, 1941.

There is a memorial for him at the Kingston Cemetery where his parents are buried.

He was born June 28, 1921, in Sycamore, DeKalb County, Illinois.

The American Legion Post in Kingston is named for him.

--GreGen

A Partial List of Illinois Casualties on the USS Arizona

From the USS Arizona Organization.

Alberovsky, Reynes Aceves--  Batavia
Apple, Robert William--  Sterling
Aves, Willard Charles--  Kingston
Bajorims, Joseph--  Born Illinois, hometown Pittsburg, Indiana

Bell, Hershel Homer
Bennett, William Edmond, Jr.
Bradley, Bruce Dean
Cabay, Louis Clarence

Clark, George Francis
Conlin, James Leo
Cox, Gerald Clinton
Dreesbach, Herbert Allen

Egnew, Robert Ross
Erskine, Robert Charles, USMC
Etchason, Leslie Edgar
Evans, Paul Anthony

Fitzsimmons, Eugene
Floege, Frank Norman
Gaultney, Ralph Martin
Giovezzo, Michael James

Good, Leland
Gosselin, Edward Webb

--GreGen

Willard Charles Aves, KIA, December 7, 1941, USS Arizona

From the USS Arizona Org.

I was sorry to read that the writer of the letter mention yesterday from Kingston, Illinois, did not survive the attack.

AVES, WILLARD CHARLES-- F2/C, USN-- ILLINOIS, KIA USS ARIZONA BB-39

Service Number:  300 19 18
Rate:  Fireman Second Class
Duties:  Fire and tend boilers.  operate, adjust and repair pumps.

Enlisted:  8 October 1940, Chicago, Illinois
On board USS Arizona, 9 December 1940 from NTS Great Lakes
DOB: 28 June 1921, Kingston, Illinois

Hometown/state Dec. 1941:  Kingston, Illinois
Next of kin:  Mr. Charles Aves, father, Kingston, Illinois
Disposition:  Unrecoverable

Posthumous Awards:  Purple Heart, American defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w'Star, WWII Victory Medal.

Sad to Find This.  --GreGen