William Hargis Steely
PFC William H. “Hodges” Steely served with Headquarters & Service Company, 22nd Marines.
He was reported missing near Ennubirr Island, Marshall Islands, on 29 February 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 281475
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 9, 1922
in Flomaton, AL
Parents
Walter Gray Steely
Sallie Mae (Cohron) Steely
Education
Flomaton High School
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
January 24, 1940
at Pensacola, FL
Home Of Record
127 West Romano Street
Pensacola, FL
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Sallie M. Steely
Military Specialty
Quartermaster
Individual Decorations
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC William Steely enlisted in the Marine Corps before World War II and trained as a quartermaster. He served in the occupation of Samoa, and participated in the assault and capture of Eniewetok Atoll in February 1944.
On 25 February 1944, Steely and his company boarded the USS President Monroe at Eniwetok and set sail for the Kwajalein atoll. A two-day voyage brought them to Kwajalein lagoon, and the Monroe spent 27-28 February discharging passengers and cargo to the islet Ennubirr for garrison duty.
PFC Steely was last known to be ashore on Ennubirr at around 1800 hours on 29 February 1944. His company reported him missing at that time, and after two months with no further information, they forwarded his records to Headquarters USMC. He was ultimately determined to have drowned on that date, and his remains were never found.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Sallie Steely.
Location Of Loss
Steely was lost in the vicinity of Ennubirr Island, Marshall Islands.
