Robert England Windle
PFC Robert E. “Bob” Windle served with the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Arizona.
He was reported missing in action following the destruction of his ship at Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 285460
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
Considered permanently non-recoverable.
Final resting place aboard the Arizona.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
September 25, 1921
at Fort Smith, AR
Parents
Willie Bob Windle (d. 1937)
Carolyn (England) Windle
Education
Jersey Township High School (1940)
Occupation
Enlisted from high school
Service Life
Entered Service
June 14, 1940
at Chicago, IL
Home Of Record
1201 South Main Street
Jacksonville, IL
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. W. B. Windle
Specialty
Ship’s Detachment
Primary Unit
USS Arizona (BB-39)
Campaigns Served
Pearl Harbor
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Robert E. Windle was a member of the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Arizona. He was aboard on 7 December 1941 when his ship was bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft at the battle of Pearl Harbor.
His fellow Marine and close friend, PFC Lamar Crawford, honored the “solemn pact” between by writing a condolence letter to Carolyn Windle:
A bomb made a direct hit in the vicinity of the gun on which he was stationed. He died in the defense of his ship and country, and he did not die in vain. It will take a lot of those devils to make up for my buddy, and I will get as many of them as I can.
Burial Information or Disposition
Windle’s remains were not recovered or identified after the attack. In accordance with Navy tradition, he is considered lost at sea with the Arizona as his final resting place.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Carolyn Windle.
Location Of Loss
PFC Windle was killed in action aboard the USS Arizona.
Related Profiles
Non-recovered members of the Arizona Marine detachment, lost at Pearl Harbor.